Bhubaneswar, April 28 -- Panic has gripped residents in parts of Balasore district after a lone tusker strayed into human settlements near Kupari and has been roaming in the area for the past three days without returning to the forest.

According to reports, the elephant descended from the Sarishua hills near Kupari late at night three days ago. Since then, it has been unable to find its way back to the forest and has been wandering along the outskirts of several villages, creating fear among local residents.

On the previous day, the tusker moved through multiple villages under Khaira block. By evening, it had travelled from Kutupur village in Khaira to Sabira in Soro block. It later crossed a railway line and moved towards another villa...