A 21-member herd of elephants from Tamil Nadu forests split into three groups have been creating terror in about half a dozen hamlets in Kuppam mandal in Chittoor district for the past two days.
The latest strike on Thursday was reported along a 15 km-long stretch from Yerramanu Guntalu forest fringe village, passing through Siddappa Alluru, Bobbili Revu and Nayanur, tramping down paddy and tomato crops. The rampage which began in the wee hours continued till 8.00 am.
The fear stricken villagers said three herds of elephants had been crushing the crops one after the other. Having completely lost the Deepawali festival mood, some of the families close to the Maharaja Kadai forests abutting Tamil Nadu border and villages along the fresh track of the pachyderms had left for safer places, expecting that the animals might enter human habitations at any time. Some men had sent away their women and children to safer places. Following rumour that the animals were entering villages led to panic among farmers. The police are also camping in vulnerable villages to create confidence among the public and to guide them as well.
What baffled the officials is unscheduled migratory habits of the animals during the last three years. In 2012, the migration of tuskers crisscrossing the tri-State junction of Kuppam, spreading into Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh was in December, while in 2013 the schedule commenced a month in advance, while this year it is mid October. A senior official said that the present problem would be studied in detail in a couple of days and steps would be taken to give full protection to crops and to lives of villagers. During the last three years, about seven farmers were crushed to death by elephants in Gudupalle, Shantipuram and Ramakuppam mandals.
Published - October 22, 2014 03:50 pm IST