Bhubaneswar, May 17 -- When Odisha is grappling with severe heat wave conditions, hundreds of old trees in Taratua reserve forest under Khordha range have been felled triggering concerns among the local people.

Moreover, the mysterious silence of the forest department officials over the incident has baffled the local people and environment lovers in the area and they have expressed massive resentment.

As per reports, some miscreants cut down hundreds of old and huge trees in Taratua reserve forest on Monday. They reportedly did not heed the protest by the local people and were of the opinion that the trees are cut down as per the order of the Forest Department.

Even, the forest guard appointed in the area was not present during the fel...