Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 26 : Forest officials in Andhra Pradesh are on a mission to drive away a herd of rampaging elephants that have wreaked havoc in the state's border villages.

The state's wildlife authorities with the assistance of experts from West Bengal and Orissa under 'Operation Gajendra' are attempting to coerce the herd of nine jumbos back to a sanctuary in Orissa from Srikakulam village.

A mahout and a trained elephant from the state's Chittoor district have also been brought in to assist the taskforce.

A. V. Joseph, Chief Wildlife Warden of Andhra Pradesh said that they were trying to keep the operation systematic as much as possible.

"We have now thought of a strategy wherein, the aggressive male or the 'Makana' male, which is the most aggressive one and really creating problems, we'll be able to sedate it and then try to give it partial sedation, " he said.

Joseph added that they would see to it that the jumbos go back to the Lekhari sanctuary in Orissa so that there is less of a chance of them returning.

Meanwhile, two more elephants are expected to be brought from Mysore as well as 20 more elephant handlers from West Bengal.

At least ten people have been trampled to death and dozens of houses were destroyed by a herd of rampaging elephants in the border villages of Andhra Pradesh over the last few months.

Incidents of man-animal encounter have increased over the past few months with forest areas depleting alarmingly and animals looking for food straying into areas inhabited by humans.

But this time it's a different story altogether, as the herd of elephants is not leaving this area due to the death of a fellow elephant at Darsi. (ANI)