AGARTALA, October 8 (TIWN): An elephant herd ransacked several houses at Hawaibari area under Teliamura police station last night. Though there were no casualties, the elephants destroyed a huge amount of agricultural produce.

Fear gripped the villagers with people taking shelter in nearby areas while forest officials rushed to the spot on last night to launch an operation to contain the menace. 

Forest officials and residents fear that very soon the elephants would enter residential areas adjoining to Hawaibari. For now, forest officials plan to warn people against taking early morning walks. They have also asked people not to go outside their house in the late nights.
The herd comprising of three elephants was seen roaming in Hawaibari and surrounding areas. Thus, we have warned residents not to take morning walks. The elephants have come from the Gandacherra forest, said a forest official.

At present out of the three elephants two are found missing and only one is seen roaming in Hawaibari. We are suspecting that the two missing elephants may have fallen in the hands of the poachers. We are trying our best to find out the missing elephants, said the forest official.   
According to the reports of State Wildlife Conservation officials, growing human inhabitation and activities in forest areas have decreased the wildlife population in the state and most of the animals are on the brink of extinction.