Elephants wreak havoc for 2 days in Malappuram's Karuvarakundu, several injured

Malappuram: A group of three elephants strayed into the residential areas of Karuvarakundu's Thuvvur and Iringattiri regions since Friday night, creating panic among locals by damaging vehicles, destroying crops, and injuring several people.

The elephants wandered from the Parayinkunnu forest area and entered human settlements on Friday night, creating chaos along the way at Thuvvur area and moved to Iringattiri and Pananchola on Saturday morning. "The elephants have been wreaking havoc in the region since Saturday morning,” said Fousiya, the local ward member.

In Akkarakulam, one of the elephants fell into a well while moving through a densely populated neighbourhood. Despite repeated efforts by forest officials and residents to drive the animals back into the forest, the elephants continued to roam through narrow village roads, sparking widespread fear.

The elephants charged at vehicles on the road, and one of them attacked a milk delivery van, shattering its windshield. The driver sustained minor injuries. Another vehicle that was following the van was also damaged. Several bystanders, startled by the sudden appearance of the elephants, suffered minor injuries while trying to flee the scene.

By Saturday evening, the elephants were successfully driven back into the forest, said Karuvarakundu Panchayat Vice President Abdul Latheef. However, he warned that the threat has not subsided, particularly in the Paremad Nagar area of the panchayat. "A few families are living dangerously close to the forest, and the risk still lingers," he said.

Following strong demands from the local public, forest officials have agreed to erect solar fencing in the vulnerable zones to prevent further incursions, Latheef added.

The incident follows a similar episode in Peruvambadam, Nilambur, where a wild elephant entered the compound of a resident, Azeez, and tried to break the front door's glass panes. Azeez escaped by locking himself inside. The elephant lingered for nearly two hours before retreating. In nearby Vettikuzhi, another elephant damaged a parked motorcycle in a house courtyard.