Dhenkanal, Dec 7: Traffic on the National Highway (No. 55) stalled on Thursday in Dhenkanal after a herd of elephants blocked the road for hours.
The herd of pachyderms passed into the forest after the intervention of forest officials.
Sources said that a herd of at least 25 elephants was found passing the NH 55 at the Haladiabahal village under the Odapada Block limit in the afternoon. However, the herd strayed on the road for hours as some of them could not cross the road due to the boulders and other construction materials, hoarded here for renovation of the road.
Following this, vehicular movements on both sides were almost paralyzed. At the same time, a panic gripped the commuters, to shelter in safe places.
Being informed, the forest range officials initiated an operation to chase the herd of elephants into the nearest forest, which took a few hours.
