Forest Department has deployed a special team to watch elephant movement inside Vellapathy section of Boluvampatti forest range where a couple was trampled to death by a tusker on Tuesday.
Velliangiri, 70, and his wife Bhagavathy, 68, were killed by a tusker when they were inside reserve forest for firewood collection. Hailing from Vellapathi settlement, the man was killed on the spot after stamped by the tusker on head. His wife succumbed to wounds and internal injuries after a while.
The special team, consisting of 15 persons, camped in the forest area that has six tribal settlements. The team has warned residents of the tribal hamlets about frequent movement of elephants in the range. There are about 150 families in the settlements.
C. Dinesh Kumar, forester, Boluvampatti range, said that the special team has given strict direction to residents of all the settlements not to wander inside the deep forest alone, especially in the early hours and evening.
“Members of the special team has issued warning by going to each family in the settlements. They have been asked not to wander in the forest alone. Warning has been issued to avoid open defecation inside the forest,” said Mr. Kumar.
Migration period
According to forest officials, there is high chance for migration of elephants to the region at this time of the year. They suspect that a herd of elephants have migrated from Siruvani region to Vellapathi section owing to presence of waterholes.
“There are at least three waterholes in Vellapathi section frequented by elephants.
The couple was attacked by the elephant near a waterhole.
In most cases, elephants leave the spot sensing the presence of humans. The tragedy could have been occurred when the elephant was on the way to waterhole. As the couple was alone, we don’t not have a clear picture of what could have happened,” Mr. Kumar said.
The tragedy came to light when tribal people who were far away inside the forest heard screams of Bhagavathy as she was left injured by the elephant.
The bodies of the two deceased were autopsied on Wednesday.