A herd of 19 elephants triggered panic among commuters on Sunday after being spotted crossing a busy road near Dalakhai Temple on the Athagarh–Mundali route in Odisha. Vehicular movement on both sides of the road came to a complete standstill for a considerable period as the elephants slowly crossed the stretch, leaving travellers anxious and frightened.

According to forest officials, the herd has returned to the Athagarh forest region from the Chandaka forest after a long gap. The movement of the elephants is reportedly linked to the seasonal availability of food in the area, particularly cashew and ripe mangoes in the protected forests under the Bauda forest range in Athagarh.

Officials confirmed that the herd consists of 19 elephants. A special team from the Forest Department has been deployed to monitor their movement round-the-clock to ensure the safety of both the animals and the public. Forest personnel are keeping a close watch on the herd and taking precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident.

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Meanwhile, people travelling from Athagarh towards Bhubaneswar via the Rajnagar route have been commuting in fear due to the presence of the elephant herd near the roadway. Authorities have urged locals and commuters to remain cautious while passing through the area.