Elephants on a rampage in Midnapore village

A herd of about 100 elephants went on a rampage in a village in Midnapore West district damaging houses, destroying standing crops and killing cattle since last night, forest department sources said here today.
The herd that included about 10 calfs had come from Dalma range in Jharkhand and was now settled near Deulkunda village under Shalbani police station.
The animals damaged 18 houses, destroyed standing crops of over 25 acres of land, killed two buffaloes and seven goats, the sources said.
People of the entire village were forced to stay outside home last night out of fear, they said adding the herd continued to stay near the village.

Forest department officials said they were trying to chase the elephants away and urged the villagers not to harm the animals.
Efforts were on to pay compensation to the villagers as soon as possible, the sources said.