Elephant enters residential settlement

An adult elephant entered a park in the residential settlement of Abhinav Bidanasi here on Monday after it got separated from a herd while crossing a river, Forest officials said.

The park is located on the left embankment of river Kathajodi.

The panic striken residents informed the Forest department about the elephant.

Forest officials said the pachyderm was separated from a herd of about 15 elephants which was crossing the river and going to nearby Athagarh Forest Range. "The male elephant is believed to be between 12 and 15 years old and it has tusk" said city forest range officer A K Mishra.

At least 50 personnel from the Forest department and personnel from local Markat Nagar police station were deployed around the park restricting people coming close to the site.

Mishra said the elephant will be chased back to the river during the night.