Bhubaneswar: A wild elephant entered the campus of a private college in Puri district’s Kanas by breaching the boundary wall on Wednesday, prompting the institute to suspend its academic activities over safety concerns for students and staff members.
The elephant entered the campus in the morning while lectures were in progress, creating panic among students and staff, sources said. The college administration promptly halted classes and instructed everyone to remain inside their rooms. Locals said the elephant, having strayed from its natural habitat, entered the college grounds in quest of food.
Forest officials arrived at the college after getting information. They deployed a specialised team to handle the situation and ensure the elephant was safely driven away from the college premises. “We successfully drove the elephant away from the college. The elephant was initially disturbed due to the bursting of crackers and noise by students,” a forest official said.
According to sources, the elephant travelled from Chandaka forest near Bhubaneswar to Kanas through Tapanga, Malipada and Dhauli. It was spotted in Kanas block Tuesday night. Reports suggest the animal also caused damage to paddy fields in several villages.