Elephant wanders into Telangana from Maharashtra, kills 2 farmers in less than 24 hours

Forest officials from Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra said this elephant had been moving alone for the last two years and had already killed four or five people in Chhattisgarh.

Two farmers were killed in Telangana's Kumura Bheem Asifabad district in less than 24 hours by a male elephant that had strayed from its herd in Maharashtra. (EOM/photo screenshot)

Two farmers were killed in Telangana’s Kumura Bheem Asifabad district in less than 24 hours by a male elephant that had strayed from its herd in Maharashtra, said forest officials. The forest staff of Karjelly range started patrolling the bordering area in the wake of the first major wild elephant in these forests in over 70 years.

On Wednesday afternoon, a local farmer, Alluri Shankar, 50, was trampled to death by the tusker, aged around 25, which ventured into the agricultural fields of Burepally village in Koutala Mandal. On Thursday morning, another farmer, Karu Poshanna, 55, in Kondapalli village, was also killed by the elephant when he was working in his field at around 6 am. Confirming the deaths, a senior official said the two villages were five to six kilometres apart and an elephant could travel 25 to 30 kilometres overnight.

Kawal Tiger Reserve field director Shanta Ram told indianexpress.com that the elephant is roaming within five to seven kilometres of the state border with Maharashtra and may return. “The elephant is moving parallel to the border, and on Wednesday, it was found near a water canal after moving in a triangle. We thought it might go back. Our priority is the protection of people. We have requested the district administration to impose Section 144 (prohibitionary orders under CrPC) in the mandals.”

One of the most desired requirements under such condition is responsive public behaviour by confining themselves into their houses. A announcement by way of Tom Tom is being done in one of the villages for this. https://t.co/IeFCxMMdKw pic.twitter.com/j45UuTR5ZU

— Mohan Pargaien IFS🇮🇳 (@pargaien) April 4, 2024

The field director said that forest officials from Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra confirmed that this elephant had been wandering alone for the past two years and had already killed four or five people in Chhattisgarh. It recently entered the Gadchiroli forest in Maharashtra and subsequently crossed the Pranhita river to reach Telangana forests, he added.

The second kill in less than 24 hours has caused panic in surrounding villages in the region. The forest department formed joint teams consisting of staff from the forest, police, and revenue departments to monitor the elephant’s movement. It also directed villagers to stay indoors and avoid venturing outside.

Crackers have been procured to keep the tusker at bay, and local villagers have been making loud noises with drums in all adjacent habitations. Hulla groups (professionals chasing away elephants by using traditional methods of carrying lighted flamed torches and beating drums) are also being deployed from nearby forest areas of Maharashtra.

Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Mohan Chandra Pargaien announced 10 lakh as immediate compensation to the families of the victims.

First uploaded on: 04-04-2024 at 12:25 IST

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telangana

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