For the past one week, a lone tusker has been reported to be roaming at the Barliyar junction on the Ooty Main road.
It is reported that this tusker pays surprise visits frequently and has been looting fruits and food from the shops in Barliyar joint. Yesterday morning, the vendors and tourists ran in panic, as the tusker made it's appearance all of a sudden during the mid-day.
'This lone tusker usually comes in the night and during wee hours. But since a week, the tusker has started invading our shops in the day time too. Tourists do not get down from their vehicles as this tusker stands along the fringes of the road at Barliyar. The forest department should chase this lone tusker into forests before it does any major damage' said one of the tea vendor in Barliyar.
'The season is about to start in a weeks time in Nilgris and Barliyar is an important resting point for tourists who stop for refreshments. A tusker guarding the place all day long will chase off the tourists and spoil our business' Kamala a fruit vendor, said.
Forest Ranger Periyasamy and team are involved in chasing this lone tusker back into the forests.