Elephant herd nears Midnapore town

A 60-member elephant herd strayed into Kharulia area, about 2 km away from Midnapore town, triggering panic among the locals.

Divisional Forest Officer Rabindranath Shah said the herd, which included 25 baby jumbos, was now 'camping' at the area and a close vigil was being kept on it's movement.

The herd also destroyed crops of nearby Mirakata, Nayagram villages and frightened the villagers.

Kharulia is about 2 km away from Midnapore town hub. which houses administrative buildings and Vidyasar University.

The forest authorities were planning to drive away the herd through Lalgarh, Malabati jngle to Dalma forest.