Yesterday, a wild elephant damaged the roof of a fair price shop that is located in the Nadumalai estate in Valparai. It has also been reported that the wild tuskers also gulped two sacks of rice that were stored for distribution among the public. As the natives of this vicinity raised alarm, the herd of elephants moved to the Ayyappan temple area. Officials from the forest department drove the herd back into the forests with the help of the locals.
Incidents of elephants camping in the estate areas continues to increase, hence the estate workers have requested the forest department to drive the elephants into the forests using trained Kumki elephants.
In a similar incident that reportedly took place about two days ago in the Chinchona Estate region, a herd of wild elephants damaged the steel sheds that was constructed in front of the houses of Alagarsamy, Asaiyan and Palanisamy. Fortunately, no causalities were reported. Residents of Valparai continue to live in fear due to the continuous incident of elephants attacks.
