Raipur, Jun 27 (IANS): Panic has spread as at least two persons have been trampled to death and several houses damaged by herds of wild elephants rampaging in Sarguja forest and its adjoining areas of Chhattisgarh over the last few days, forest officials said Wednesday.

On Sunday, a herd of nine elephants attacked Sargaon village, 5 km from Ambikapur block's headquarters Shankargarh. On seeing the elephants, all the villagers ran away, except two people who were trampled to death. The villagers returned only after forest officials reached the village and chased away the elephant herd.

"A lone jumbo separated from its group, active in the Prem Nagar range of south Surguja forest division, about 300 km north of state capital Raipur, damaged several houses in half a dozen villages during the last six days," Forest Conservator (Wildlife) Shetty Panwar told IANS.

In Tuba village panchayat, Farsabahar block, over a dozen houses were damaged by elephants Saturday, creating panic among villagers, many of whom fled their houses, fearing for life.

According to villagers, four herds of elephants are roaming in the dense forest located between Tuba and Bangaon. Just after sunset, one or the other herd of elephants enters the village, creating panic. Villagers blame forest officials for their failure to contain the menace. The herds have come from adjoining Jharkhand, officials said.