Keonjhar: A herd of 24 elephants in Silpada cashew forest under Patna forest range in Keonjhar district got inebriated after consuming fermented mahua flowers meant for distilling country liquor by the local villagers.
Reportedly, the herd after having consumed the fermented mahua flowers to their fill went into a drunken stupor. Local villagers found the pachyderms sleeping in the cashew forest.
The elephants, however, fled the place after waking up from their stupor following commotion by the locals to drive them away.
On the other hand, Range Officer of Patna Forest Range has outright rejected the idea of elephants going to sleep after getting intoxicated.
The Officer said that elephants going to sleep is normal and there is nothing abnormal in that and there is no evidence of them consuming fermented mahua flowers meant for preparing country liquor.
According to reports, the elephant herd has gone on a rampage near Bishnupur village under Patna Forest Range.
