Near Valparai, Coimbatore district, a herd of five wild elephants broke into and damaged a grocery and a fair-price shop, causing panic among the local residents. The increase in elephant movement in surrounding estate areas due to climatic changes and the heat has led wildlife to enter residential zones in search of water.
Coimbatore: In the vicinity of Valparai, a distressing incident occurred when a herd of five wild elephants vandalized a grocery store and a women's self-help group fair-price shop in the Sirukundra estate area. The incident, which took place around 2 AM, has left the local community in a state of alarm.
The presence of wild elephants in the area has been on the rise, attributed to climatic changes and the scorching heat driving the animals from their forest habitats in search of water. This particular herd entered the residential area, causing significant damage to the properties, including breaking windows and doors to consume and scatter grocery items. Additionally, they broke into the fair-price shop, consuming and spilling three sacks of rice, lentils, and sugar onto the street. They also damaged two other shops near the Koolangal River and scattered garbage from a dumpster across the road.
Following the incident, forest department officials were called to the scene to drive the elephants back into the forest. Valparai Town Council Chairman Alagusundaravalli and former council member Selvam visited the affected area to assess the damage and assured that measures would be taken to prevent future incidents. The local populace, living in fear of increasing elephant activities, has urged the forest department to take steps to ensure the animals remain within the dense forest areas, away from human settlements.
The presence of wild elephants in the area has been on the rise, attributed to climatic changes and the scorching heat driving the animals from their forest habitats in search of water. This particular herd entered the residential area, causing significant damage to the properties, including breaking windows and doors to consume and scatter grocery items. Additionally, they broke into the fair-price shop, consuming and spilling three sacks of rice, lentils, and sugar onto the street. They also damaged two other shops near the Koolangal River and scattered garbage from a dumpster across the road.
Following the incident, forest department officials were called to the scene to drive the elephants back into the forest. Valparai Town Council Chairman Alagusundaravalli and former council member Selvam visited the affected area to assess the damage and assured that measures would be taken to prevent future incidents. The local populace, living in fear of increasing elephant activities, has urged the forest department to take steps to ensure the animals remain within the dense forest areas, away from human settlements.