Elephant Herd Triggers Campus Lockdown at NIT Rourkela, Forest Teams Intervene
Panic gripped the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela campus on Tuesday as a female elephant and her calf strayed into the institute, forcing an immediate halt to all academic activities. The incident prompted a swift, hours-long operation by forest officials to prevent the animals from entering residential and academic zones, ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff.
Forest Department's Coordinated Response
Forest teams, led by Rourkela Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Jashabanta Sethi, rushed to the scene upon receiving alerts. They closely monitored the movement of the two elephants, implementing strategic measures to guide them out of the campus by evening. Simultaneously, a separate squad was deployed to manage another group of three elephants that had moved towards the nearby area of Jagda, highlighting the scale of the wildlife intrusion.
The adult female and calf were part of a larger 21-member herd that had initially entered the reserve forest under Santoshpur panchayat in Bisra block earlier in the day. The herd later split, with two elephants venturing into the NIT-R campus and three heading towards Jagda, creating multiple points of concern for authorities.
Emergency Measures and Campus Advisories
Upon receiving information, forest and police personnel conducted a thorough inspection of the area. They erected temporary solar fencing to block the elephants' movement towards critical zones such as hostels, staff quarters, and academic buildings. Officials maintained a vigilant watch for several hours, waiting for an opportune moment to guide the elephants out without inciting panic or causing harm.
In response to the elephant movement, NIT-R authorities issued urgent advisories, urging students to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement. Fear and anxiety spread rapidly among the campus community, including students, faculty, staff, and local residents, as the two elephants roamed freely within the institute grounds.
Successful Resolution and Ongoing Monitoring
By evening, the forest squad successfully drove the two elephants out of the NIT campus, with the animals later moving towards a nearby hill. The second team continued efforts to push back the other three elephants in Jagda, demonstrating the ongoing nature of the operation.
DFO Jashabanta Sethi provided an update, stating, "The two elephants have been driven out of the NIT campus. Our teams are closely monitoring their movement. Operations to drive away the three elephants in Jagda are also underway." This statement underscores the forest department's commitment to managing the situation effectively and ensuring public safety.
The incident at NIT Rourkela highlights the increasing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in urban and educational settings. It serves as a reminder of the importance of coordinated emergency responses and proactive measures to protect both communities and wildlife in regions like Odisha.
