The elephant which strayed into Telangana from Maharashtra killed another farmer in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district on Thursday morning. The tusker trampled 55-year-old Karu Poshanna from Kondapally village while he was working in his agriculture field.
The male elephant initially attacked Alluri Shankar of Burepally village, also a farmer, leading to his death on Wednesday. Telangana Forest department stated that the elephant got separated from the herd which had entered Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district from bordering Chhattisgarh.
Section 144 of Cr Pc has been imposed in five mandals, namely Chinthala Manepally, Dahegaon, Penchikalpet, Sirpur-T, and Bejjur, in order to control people from venturing out into the agricultural fields or forest.
The pachyderm, the movements of which have been so far between Karjelly and Penchikalpet ranges, is being monitored by the forest teams.
As wild tusker attacks had been non-existent in the State, the Forest department is not prepared to handle such a crisis, officials informed.
“We do not have Kumki elephants, to lead away the animal back. Bringing them from Karnataka is a huge exercise,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Mohan Chandra Pargaien said, he rushed to the spot on Thursday. Tranquillisation will be the last option, as there were earlier instances when elephants died during the process, he added.
Joint teams of Forest, Police, Revenue and Panchayat staff are visiting each habitation and advising them not to venture out. Tom-toms are being used to alert people, Mr. Pargaien informed.
Forest watchers sitting atop the Mission Bhagiratha water tanks are tracking the animal, and every message about the presence of the elephant is being verified.
Hulla parties, who are professionals used to chase away elephant by using traditional methods of carrying lighted torches, and drum beating, are being summoned from Maharashtra border areas, he said.
