Srikakulam: Wild elephants kill dozen persons in 12 years

Srikakulam: The wild elephants in Agency and forest areas of Srikakulam district killed 12 persons in 12 years. In total, seven elephants entered Srikakulam agency from Lakheri forest area of Odisha State in 2007 by crossing Vamsadhara river. Of it, three elephants died and four are remained alive.

These elephants have been moving around Sitampeta, Kotturu, Veeragattam, Palakonda, Kotturu, Bhamini and other mandals since then. In 2015, another four elephants arrived in forest area of Mandasa mandal in the district from Odisha State. These elephants have also been moving around in Mandasa, Sompeta, Nandigama and other mandals.

As per forest department officials sources, the deceased persons were identified as Pasupureddy Appa Rao, Siripothala Mariamma of K Veeragattam village, Kumbidi Nagaraju of Hussainpuram, Tentu Srinivasa Rao of Santhanarsipuram, Kondagorri Sambayya of Chalivendri village, Sasupalli Murali of Padali village, K Thavitayya of Sodha village, T Kumar of Ponnuturu village, M Neelamma of Hirapuram, S Rama Rao of Parasuramapuram, Savara Podamma of Peddamanda village and Savara Gayaramma of Eethamanuguda village in Veeragattam, Hiramandal, Kotturu, Bhamini, Palakonda and Sitampeta mandals. For all the ten deceased persons, a total of Rs 10 lakh paid as compensation to their family members. Proposals were sent to the government for payment of compensation to the family members of Savara Podamma and Savara Gayaramma by forest officials on Wednesday.

The elephants also damaged paddy, sugarcane, banana, maize, red gram, cashew and mango in all agency mandals in 270 acres extent. For the damage of crops, the government has paid Rs 41,82,183 to the farmers.

"We have been tracking elephants by digging trenches to arrest their movement towards villages. We are also using crackers to drive the wild animals into forests," said Divisional Forest Officer for territorial wing Ch Shanthi Swaroop to The Hans India.

"We are going to discuss the wild elephants' issue with Odisha state to send them back elephants to the forests," District Collector J Nivas told this newspaper.