Siliguri (West Bengal), July 23 - At least six houses were damaged by a wild elephant Wednesday night in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, a forest official said Thursday.

'An elephant went berserk, and moving out of the forest in Kurseong forest division damaged at least six houses in that area. The incident took place at Bounpukhri area in the district,' Kurseong divisional forest officer (DFO) Y.P. Aden said.

He said the local people had staged a blockade in front of the Kurseong forest range office Wednesday night following the elephant's attack.

Sources said the night patrolling by the forest officials was also stopped for the time being because of the indefinite shutdown called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills.