Bhubaneswar, May 11 -- Tension gripped Kalchhikachhar village of Bolangir district after two elephants reportedly strayed into a habitation under the Patnagarh forest range on Monday morning, damaging houses and crops and triggering panic among residents.

Sources said, the elephants allegedly ransacked homes and destroyed harvested paddy and maize belonging to local farmers Kartik Raut and Ranjit Budek.

According to reports, the elephants entered the village during the early hours and moved through residential areas, consuming stored crops and damaging property. Villagers said such incidents have become increasingly frequent, raising serious concerns about human-wildlife conflict in the region.

The sudden movement of the elephants crea...