Narrow escape for family as elephant damages house

Elephant movement has increased in tribal settlement, say villagers

The house of C. Perumal at Kaattusalai tribal settlement which was damaged by a wild elephant on Saturday.

Seven of a family from Kaattusalai aka Milagayampathi tribal settlement near Anaikatti had a narrow escape after a wild elephant damaged their house early on Saturday.

The house of C. Perumal, 58, was damaged after a makhna (tusk-less male) elephant raided it. The incident happened around 3.30 a.m. when Perumal, his wife, her sister, Perumal’s son and three grandchildren were asleep in the house.

The elephant, which roamed in the tribal settlement damaged the roofing of the house in an attempt to search for food items.

Perumal and the family members remained inside the house even as the elephant damaged asbestos sheets and tiles used for roofing.

The elephant was chased by men from the tribal settlement who were alerted about the presence of the animal.

They later informed the Forest Department staff.

Officials from the Forest Department visited the place and assured the family that compensation will be arranged for the damages caused by the elephant.

The villagers told Forest Department staff that movement of elephants through the tribal settlement had increased due to shortage of water and fodder inside the forest in the summer.