Jamshedpur: Forest dept forms team to protect villagers against elephants

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Dec 14: Forest department launched a drive to protect the villagers of Jadugora against the herd of nine elephants who reportedly entered several local villagers three days ago. A 15 member team of forest officials has been formed to protect crops and human lives from the brunt of the beasts, sources said.

Sources said a team of six forest guards is also assisting the larger team. Local villagers led by the Mukhiya Shriram Soren accompanied the forest patrol team last night. The team visited the foothills, farms and villages throughout the night. Early morning, the team spotted a herd of five elephants and their two calves.

In view of the herd’s presence, the forest officials distributed fire crackers, battery-run torches and four fire torches among the villagers in order to help them shoo away the elephants. The forest officials and villagers would continue the night patrolling today, sources said.