Keonjhar, Odisha : Panic gripped residents of Patna block in Odisha’s Keonjhar district after a wild elephant went on a rampage, destroying cow sheds and temple gardens in the area. The latest incident took place at the premises of the revered Parameshwar Temple, where the tusker broke into the cow shelter, damaged its structure, and consumed the stored fodder.
According to eyewitnesses, the elephant entered the temple compound in the dead of night, searching for food. In its path of destruction, it dismantled the cowshed’s grills and walls, and uprooted the temple’s garden plants. Chaos followed as villagers rushed to safety and alerted the forest department.
“The elephant stayed in the temple area for quite some time, which created panic among locals,” said a resident. “We’ve never seen anything like this so close to the village center.”
A video of the incident is now making rounds on social media, capturing the moments when the elephant broke through the structure and fed on the hay kept for cattle.
Forest department officials responded promptly to the alert, reaching the temple complex to track and drive the elephant back into the wild. Authorities confirmed that the animal had strayed from a nearby forest and has been part of a group causing damage across the region in recent weeks.
With rising elephant movement in the area, several villages have reported loss of crops, damaged gardens, and property destruction. The forest department has assured increased patrolling and urged residents to remain alert and report any fresh sightings immediately.
