On Tuesday night, a lone wild elephant entered residential areas near Kathirnaickenpalayam in Coimbatore, damaged a tin shed where construction workers were staying and was driven back into the forest by personnel after a two-hour operation.
Chennai: Tense moments prevailed at Kathirnaickenpalayam near Thudiyalur in Coimbatore on Tuesday night after a lone wild elephant entered a residential area, damaged tin sheds where construction workers were staying and destroyed crops before being driven back into the forest after a two-hour operation.
According to residents, the elephant entered the locality around 1 a.m. in search of food and was seen moving through Lakshmi Nagar and Phase 3 of Kathirnaickenpalayam. It later entered a nearby farm, where it consumed fodder stored for cattle and chased away dogs in the area.
Around 2 a.m., the elephant entered and damaged a tin shed where migrant construction workers were staying. The workers in the nearby sheds rushed out and took shelter in a building close by.
The elephant also entered nearby agricultural land and damaged crops before residents alerted the Forest Department.
Forest personnel subsequently reached the area and launched an operation to drive the elephant away from the residential locality. After nearly two hours of efforts, the animal was driven back into the forest.
Residents said the lone elephant has been frequently spotted in Mani Nagar, Ganapathy Nagar, Ganapathy Garden, Postal Colony, R.V. Nagar, Poochiyur, Vetrivelava Nagar, Renukapuram and Lakshmi Nagar, causing concern among people living in these localities.
Forest officials have urged residents to remain cautious, particularly at night, due to the elephant’s frequent movement in and around residential areas.
Meanwhile, residents alleged that sudden and unannounced power outages in Lakshmi Nagar, Renukapuram and surrounding areas at night were making it difficult to monitor elephant movement. They urged the Electricity Department and Forest Department to coordinate and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of residents.
According to residents, the elephant entered the locality around 1 a.m. in search of food and was seen moving through Lakshmi Nagar and Phase 3 of Kathirnaickenpalayam. It later entered a nearby farm, where it consumed fodder stored for cattle and chased away dogs in the area.
Around 2 a.m., the elephant entered and damaged a tin shed where migrant construction workers were staying. The workers in the nearby sheds rushed out and took shelter in a building close by.
The elephant also entered nearby agricultural land and damaged crops before residents alerted the Forest Department.
Forest personnel subsequently reached the area and launched an operation to drive the elephant away from the residential locality. After nearly two hours of efforts, the animal was driven back into the forest.
Residents said the lone elephant has been frequently spotted in Mani Nagar, Ganapathy Nagar, Ganapathy Garden, Postal Colony, R.V. Nagar, Poochiyur, Vetrivelava Nagar, Renukapuram and Lakshmi Nagar, causing concern among people living in these localities.
Forest officials have urged residents to remain cautious, particularly at night, due to the elephant’s frequent movement in and around residential areas.
Meanwhile, residents alleged that sudden and unannounced power outages in Lakshmi Nagar, Renukapuram and surrounding areas at night were making it difficult to monitor elephant movement. They urged the Electricity Department and Forest Department to coordinate and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of residents.