Wild Elephants Trigger Panic In MP's Shahdol Villages; Houses, Crops Damaged, Forest Officials Promise Compensation

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Four elephants that strayed from Chhattisgarh into Shahdol district have sparked panic in Dhanpura village, damaging several houses and fields on Tuesday night.

While no human casualties were reported, the situation has left villagers anxious and fearful, especially during night when the elephants are on the move.

District Forest Officer Shraddha Pandre told Free Press that the forest department is on high alert and is appealing to villagers to stay away from elephants and avoid any provocation, assuring that all damage will be compensated.

“The elephants are calm for now, and intercepting them unnecessarily could turn dangerous,” Pandre said. She said that elephants had moved to Hardi village of Pipariya tehsil by Wednesday and are expected to continue moving during the night.

The elephant group entered North Shahdol via Umaria a few days ago and has remained in the region since, keeping forest officials and locals on edge. A team of around 50 forest personnel and police is tracking elephants' movements, but intervention remains minimal due to risk of triggering aggression.

Meanwhile, villagers remain on high alert, avoiding forested areas and venturing out only during daylight. “They are terrified, especially at night.No one wants to come face-to-face with the elephants in the dark,” said a local source.