Villagers on fast seeking steps to end jumbo menace

Sarasu, tea estate labourer, from Konavakarai panchayat near Kotagiri was walking from her house when a wild elephant emerged from the bush and began to chase her. 

Around 7.30 am, when she was going near Semmanarai pirivu, the elephant charged on her. She began to run but fell on a surface laid with gravel stones. She immediately fainted, suffering injuries on her hands and legs. 

Fortunately, the elephant retreated into the forest cover without harming the woman. The villagers, who noticed the woman lying unconscious, rushed her to Kotagiri Government Hospital. After first aid, the woman was shifted to Ooty Government Hospital for further treatment. 

On receiving information, the forest department deployed staff to monitor the movement of the wild jumbo at the place where the conflict happened. The incident happened a day a 63-year-old daily wager was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kotagiri. The deceased person Samidas from Sholur Mattam pirivu had come out of his house around 4 am, when a wild elephant which was wandering around trampled him to death. 

Meanwhile, people from different villages in Pandalur, tea estate workers and members of various political parties led by Gudalur DMK MLA Dravida Mani took part in the fasting protest. They urged the forest department to take preventive measures by digging trenches, erect electric fencing and enhance patrol to bring down man-animal conflicts. They also sought to provide better street lighting in the areas of conflict and increase compensation to victims. 

Frequent incidents of conflicts, triggered traders to shut shop and members of various political parties to observe a day-long fasting protest in Pandalur area.