Midnapore: A wild tusker came up on the
national highway for some time blocking traffic after
flattening a liquor den and consuming brew in West Midnapore
district today.
The full-grown elephant, which strayed into the area
from adjacent Kalaikunda forest range, went on a rampage
destroying paddy crops of 30-34 hectares of land and smashing
two huts at Shyamchak area, forest department sources said.
It also smashed a liquor den and drank the stored brew,
they said.
As villagers and forest officials attempted to ward off
the pachyderm from a distance, the animal suddenly headed
towards NH 6 and moved around for some time stalling traffic
as frightened motorists looked on.
The elephant later changed its mind and went back to a
paddy field at Begumbari village damaging all the crops.
Besides Begumbari, the elephant caused most devastation at
Kanika, Singpur and Majbur villages, all located within
Shyamchak belt.
The animal strayed into the area along with a calf and
a female elephant but itself caused most of the damages.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009, 22:20