A 60-member elephant herd strayed into Kharulia area, about 2 km away from Midnapore town, triggering panic among the locals.
Divisional Forest Officer Rabindranath Shah said the herd, which included 25 baby jumbos, was now 'camping' at the area and a close vigil was being kept on it's movement.
The herd also destroyed crops of nearby Mirakata, Nayagram villages and frightened the villagers.
Kharulia is about 2 km away from Midnapore town hub. which houses administrative buildings and Vidyasar University.
The forest authorities were planning to drive away the herd through Lalgarh, Malabati jngle to Dalma forest.
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