September 8, 2022: Venomous fire ants have wreaked havoc at Brahmansahi village in Pipli block of Odisha’s Puri district, forcing people to flee their homes. A team of scientists, pest controllers, and administrative staff reached the village to take stock of the situation.

A total of three families out of 26 families residing in the village have abandoned their houses due to the menace. Hordes of ants were seen everywhere in the village, from houses to walls, trees, roads, and open areas. The insects have started making colonies in every corner of the village, including trees, roots, sand, wood piles, mud walls of houses, and electric boards.

Villagers were seen covering their feet with polythene sheets while moving around the village at night.

According to some villagers, the deadly red ants were creeping into their houses from the embankments of a nearby canal.

Meanwhile, a team from the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), local Block Development Officer (BDO), and pest controllers arrived at the village and took stock of the situation. The ants were eradicated from a majority of places and efforts are on to contain their spread. The OUAT team has taken samples of the ants for testing.