Keonjhar, September 01 (odisha.in) All 21 families of a village in Orissa’s Keonjhar district are living in caves located on a hill particularly during the night because of the fear of elephants who often destroy their huts.
All the families belong to primitive Juang tribe and are resident of Chandangiri village. Few years ago Indramani Juanga a village resident was crushed to death by an elephant.
Elephants often rush to their village from the nearby forest and destroy their homes. The affected families are so poor that they are even unable to repair their destroyed huts. The wild animals also eat into our crops, grains entering into our homes.
Sukura Juanga, Prava juanga, Manguli juanga, Sudershan Juanga, Baria Juanga, Sushila Juanga are few of the villagers who are living in damaged houses.
They along with other villagers every night walk to the hill top and stay the whole night in the caves.
“We requested the local forest department to provide us protection but in vein” Sukura Juanga told Odisha.in
“Even we don’t have money to buy crackers or light to drive away the wind animals including elephants” he said. That is why we are living in caves in the night, he said.
“I will look into it” Divisional forest officer Dr. Pradip Raj Karat said.
Odisha.in