Elephant Herd Disrupts Traffic in Joda: A Growing Concern for Local Residents

Traffic Disruption Due to Elephant Movement

On Sunday evening, traffic was brought to a standstill for several hours on the Ra nasal Ghat section of National Highway 520 in the Joda area, known for its mining activities, due to a herd of elephants crossing the road.

Residents in Joda and Barbil have voiced their concerns as such incidents have become increasingly frequent.

The rise in elephant sightings on roads is linked to uncontrolled mining practices that have led to the destruction of their natural habitats.

A local resident expressed, "There is a persistent worry about potential accidents, both on the roads and within the mines, because of the elephants' frequent appearances."

Compounding the issue, some individuals have been reported to provoke the elephants by yelling, throwing stones, and hitting them with sticks.

Such provocations can cause the elephants to panic and move unpredictably in search of safety.

Elephants have been spotted crossing roads during daylight hours near Joda and Barbil, heightening fears of aggressive encounters.

"If the Forest Department fails to effectively manage the situation, we could see an increase in accidents and a worsening of human-elephant conflicts," cautioned Rasananda Behera, a member of a local social organization.

Sanjib Rout, the Barbil Range Officer, confirmed the temporary closure of the road, stating, "We are closely monitoring the herd's movements near the highway. We halted vehicle traffic this evening to prevent any incidents."

The community remains anxious following recent fatalities linked to human-elephant interactions.

Just a few days prior, two individuals lost their lives in an elephant attack in the Rugudi police jurisdiction, which sparked unrest.

During this incident, several forest officials sustained injuries, and eight villagers were arrested for attacking them.

In another case under the Bamebari police station, another fatal encounter with an elephant led to further tensions, resulting in another assault on a forest officer by locals.

Forest officials are actively monitoring the situation as they work to mitigate further conflicts between humans and wildlife.