TIRUPATI: A wild elephant herd roaming along Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border triggered panic after a Tamil Nadu farmer and a cow were killed in an elephant attack near Chinna Mattarapalli in Krishnagiri district during the early hours of Tuesday.
According to reports, a herd of six elephants that had moved from the Kuppam forest region into Tamil Nadu was being guided back towards the Andhra Pradesh forest by Tamil Nadu forest personnel when one of the elephants reportedly attacked a farmer working near the forest fringe at Chinna Mattarapalli village on AP-Tamil Nadu border. The farmer died on the spot after being trampled. A cow was also killed in the incident.
The incident sparked tension in the border village as the victim’s family members and local residents staged a late-night protest on the Kuppam-Krishnagiri National Highway. Protesters alleged that Tamil Nadu forest officials attempted to drive the elephant herd towards the Andhra Pradesh side without adequate public warning, resulting in the fatal attack.
The road blockade led to traffic jam stretching for several kilometres before police intervened.
The continued movement of elephants also disrupted transport services. Due to the presence of elephants on the highway near Chinna Mattarapalli, APSRTC buses were forced to take an alternative route through Tamil Nadu, travelling nearly 40 kilometres extra to reach Kuppam.
APSRTC bus driver Mani and conductor Viswanath said they had to change the route after elephants were spotted on the road during the night. Following the fatal attack on the farmer and the death of the cow, the six elephant herd moved along the Kuppam-Krishnagiri highway and reached the outskirts of Kuppam, causing alarm among commuters and local residents.
Meanwhile, in another incident panic prevailed in Ramapuram village of Ramakuppam mandal after a lone tusker was seen wandering along the Veeranamala-Ramapuram inter-state road in the evening while searching for food. Motorists slowed down and avoided the stretch until the elephant moved away. A youth travelling on a motorcycle managed to photograph the elephant.
