kendrapada villagers living in areas under jajpurs bairi forest range have taken shelter on treetops to save themselves from marauding jumbos about 30 elephants recently entered solari siha kumbhei dhania agarahat chandia barapada safa kadei solara and maisadanda villages and damaged paddy crops and banana trees the elephants also damaged mudwalled houses of six persons we had no other option except staying atop trees during the nights said madan mohan dehuri of dhania village we are also taking food and water with us said jagannath jena of siha village at least three persons have died in elephant attacks in the area in past two years and the animals 220 houses last year elephants had damaged my house added jena elephant menace has forced us to live like monkeys on trees we are building temporary structures atop banyan neem chakunda and peepal trees said sabitri jena of siha village after finishing all household works before sunset villagers reach treetops to spend the night she added officials said an antidepredation force has been deployed in areas prone to elephant attacks however villagers alleged that they have not seen the force chasing the wild elephants into forests as the natural habitats of elephants are being destroyed due to deforestation the jumbos are entering villages in search of food and running amok the elephants strayed into the area from nearby kapilas forest in dhenkanal district said forest officer of bairi range dilip kumar singh