Keonjhar, Mar 27: A herd of 18 elephants caused widespread damage in Keonjhar district's Sadar area late last night, triggering panic among local residents.

According to reports, a herd of 18 elephants entered Kusumita and Mahadeijoda area from nearby Shuakati forest and went on a rampage wreaking damage to paddy crops over acres of area.

Following the incident, the region, which is largely dependent on extensive paddy cultivation, has witnessed significant crop damage.

After hours of efforts by locals, the elephants eventually retreated back into the Shuakati forest.

On the other hand, authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further instances of human-elephant conflict.

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