Babar boo boo

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Rampaging elephants lured by the smell of homemade liquor have forced nearly two dozen tribespeople to sleep in treetops in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, an official said.

Some 60 elephants are running amok in the area, damaging mud houses as they try to sniff out the alcohol, Ashok Meena, Keonjhar District Magistrate told Reuters by telephone.

"Close to two dozen people are staying in the treetops with family members because they are afraid of the elephants. They often take their bedding and food (with them) during the night," Meena said.

At least half a dozen people have died in the past 18 months in elephant attacks in the area and 200 houses have been damaged or destroyed, he said. The elephants have been drawn to the area, 220 km (137 miles) from the state capital of Bhubaneshwar, by the smell of handia, a local brew made out of fermented rice, he said.