Ant assault forces folks to flee Odisha village

By PTI

BHUBANESWAR: Lakhs of pink ants invaded Brahmansahi village in Odisha’s Puri district after flood water receded lately, prompting scientists to launch an operation to rid the hamlet of the military of toxic bugs.

Swarms of ants infested each nook and nook of the village, together with homes, roads, fields and timber, throwing regular lives out of substances.

Many have been bitten by these ants, inflicting swelling and irritation on the pores and skin.

Even home animals and home lizards have fallen prey to the ants.

The state of affairs is such that villagers are to compelled draw circles with pesticide powders wherever they sit, stand or sleep.

Three households of the village have fled because of the ant menace and are staying at their family’ place, locals mentioned.

Loknath Dash, a villager, mentioned he has not seen something like this previously regardless of floods hitting the village earlier as properly.

“The ants have made our lives miserable. We are unable to eat, sleep or sit properly. The children are unable to study due to the fear of ants,” mentioned Renubala Dash, who alongside along with her household is now staying at a relative’s home in a close-by village.

Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and the district administration have launched an operation to offer aid to the villagers.

Senior OUAT scientist Sanjay Mohanty mentioned the village is surrounded by a river and bushy forests.

“The ants which live on the river embankment and bushes moved to the village as their habitats were inundated by flood waters,” Mohanty mentioned it was a brand new phenomenon within the village, the place round 100 households stay.

“However, we are trying to find the place from where the ants are coming. Once the place is located, pesticide can be sprayed on a two-metre radius of it,” he mentioned.

“In order to end the menace, our primary aim is to find and kill the queen ants. They are responsible for the explosion of red and fire ants in the area,” he added.

Mohanty mentioned samples of the ants have been despatched to the laboratory to establish their character.

Local Block Development Officer (BDO) Rashmita Nath mentioned such ants should not new to the realm, however none thought that they may have an effect on regular lives.

Though the folks have complained of pores and skin irritation and swelling after ant bites, nobody has been hospitalised to this point, she mentioned.

“I visited the village and found ants everywhere. The locals have tried their best but could not drive away the ants,” Nath mentioned.

The officer mentioned cleansing of bushes and spraying of pesticides have been ordered.

Medical groups are additionally visiting the village to deal with the affected folks, she mentioned.

After cyclone Phailin in 2013, an analogous incident occurred in Danda village in Sadar block of the district, a scientist mentioned.

BHUBANESWAR: Lakhs of pink ants invaded Brahmansahi village in Odisha’s Puri district after flood water receded lately, prompting scientists to launch an operation to rid the hamlet of the military of toxic bugs.

Swarms of ants infested each nook and nook of the village, together with homes, roads, fields and timber, throwing regular lives out of substances.

Many have been bitten by these ants, inflicting swelling and irritation on the pores and skin.

Even home animals and home lizards have fallen prey to the ants.

The state of affairs is such that villagers are to compelled draw circles with pesticide powders wherever they sit, stand or sleep.

Three households of the village have fled because of the ant menace and are staying at their family’ place, locals mentioned.

Loknath Dash, a villager, mentioned he has not seen something like this previously regardless of floods hitting the village earlier as properly.

“The ants have made our lives miserable. We are unable to eat, sleep or sit properly. The children are unable to study due to the fear of ants,” mentioned Renubala Dash, who alongside along with her household is now staying at a relative’s home in a close-by village.

Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and the district administration have launched an operation to offer aid to the villagers.

Senior OUAT scientist Sanjay Mohanty mentioned the village is surrounded by a river and bushy forests.

“The ants which live on the river embankment and bushes moved to the village as their habitats were inundated by flood waters,” Mohanty mentioned it was a brand new phenomenon within the village, the place round 100 households stay.

“However, we are trying to find the place from where the ants are coming. Once the place is located, pesticide can be sprayed on a two-metre radius of it,” he mentioned.

“In order to end the menace, our primary aim is to find and kill the queen ants. They are responsible for the explosion of red and fire ants in the area,” he added.

Mohanty mentioned samples of the ants have been despatched to the laboratory to establish their character.

Local Block Development Officer (BDO) Rashmita Nath mentioned such ants should not new to the realm, however none thought that they may have an effect on regular lives.

Though the folks have complained of pores and skin irritation and swelling after ant bites, nobody has been hospitalised to this point, she mentioned.

“I visited the village and found ants everywhere. The locals have tried their best but could not drive away the ants,” Nath mentioned.

The officer mentioned cleansing of bushes and spraying of pesticides have been ordered.

Medical groups are additionally visiting the village to deal with the affected folks, she mentioned.

After cyclone Phailin in 2013, an analogous incident occurred in Danda village in Sadar block of the district, a scientist mentioned.