Wild Elephant Wreaks Havoc in Athirappilly Days After Fatal Attack; Minister' Convoy Also Blocked

Athirappilly: A wild elephant has struck again in Athirappilly, near the home of Mohanan of Vettilappara Vaisheri, who was killed in an elephant attack just days earlier. The elephant came down in the early hours of Monday and caused extensive damage to the farmland of Chemminiyadan Krishnan. Though Krishnan and others witnessed the destruction, fear kept everyone indoors and no one ventured out to intervene.

In a separate incident on Sunday evening, a wild elephant strayed onto the Anamala interstate highway near Kummatti and destroyed equipments that had been brought for road construction work.

Forest Minister Shibu Baby John, who had arrived in the area to visit the family of the deceased Mohanan and attend a high-level officials' meeting in Chalakudy, also found his convoy blocked by a wild elephant on the road near Charpa. Forest department personnel had to be called in to drive the animal away before the minister could proceed to the Walacchaal Guest House.