Nuapada: Panic gripped people after a sloth bear strayed into residential areas of Khariar town in Nuapada district on Wednesday.
The bear was seen moving towards Nuabandh from Niljibandh area of the town in the evening.
On being informed, the Forest department while maintaining a strict vigil has set up traps at different places in the town to catch the bear.
The local administration has alerted people through the public address system to stay indoors.
