Rayagada: In a bizarre incident, it has been believed that a herd of elephants ate Rs 80,000 in cash, along with paddy, rice, and other food items, in Rayagada district, Odisha. The incident is part of a larger issue of elephant terror in the Niyamgiri hills under the Muniguda forest range, where a herd of 24 elephants has been causing destruction for the past seven days.The elephants have destroyed crops in the area and demolished three houses in Katriguda village over a span of two days. It’s believed that the elephants consumed rice, cereals, and cash worth over Rs 80,000 that was stored in pitchers with millet in the houses.According to reports, the elephants first demolished the house of Naria Hikka, where they ate the rice and cash that had been kept for construction purposes. Yesterday, the herd demolished two more houses, including Lucky Praska’s, but the occupants escaped unharmed after hearing the elephants’ roar.The ward member expressed fear of the elephants, especially in the evenings.The Muniguda Forest Ranger acknowledged that the 24-member elephant herd has been roaming the area for several days and assured that departmental officers are tracking their movements.
