Jumbos damage crops, houses in Gumla

GUMLA: People living in forested areas of Basia and Dumri block of the district are spending sleepless nights for the few days owing to elephant menace in the area. A herd of jumbos have damaged several houses and destroyed many standing crops, locals said.


In Basia block, two elephants who are camping in this area since Tuesday have kept residents on tenterhooks.

On Tuesday night, they vandalised the house of one Nakul Singh besides damaging standing crops in the field.

"These two tuskers are permanent inhabitants of Lungtu Patratoli forest for last few years. At times, they walk to nearby forests in search of mahua and grains," Gumla DFO Shrikant said, adding, "We have asked the residents to stay together at night and remove mahua if stored at home."

In Dumri block, 4km from Lungtu Patratoli, presence of three elephants worries villagers. On Tuesday night, a lone jumbo devoured two quintal paddy stored in the house owned by one Sudhir Minz at Bhikhampur Badjatoli in Dumri.

"The tusker usually enters the village from Chhattisgarh and vandalise houses and crops," the DFO said, adding adequate compensation will be paid as per norms. "We are vigilant and are trying to keep them away from habitation by burning crackers."