Munnar: Padayappa, the wild tusker known for roaming the Munnar region, caused quite a stir on Saturday after ‘snatching’ a sack of rice in broad daylight. Though he later abandoned it amid loud shouts from onlookers, the elephant lingered in the area for several hours, refusing to leave.

The incident took place in front of a ration shop near Silent Valley when workers were unloading supplies from a truck. Drawn by the aroma of food items, Padayappa suddenly emerged from the nearby forest.

Startled by his unexpected appearance, the truck crew and locals raised an alarm, prompting the tusker to retreat momentarily before returning. Panic quickly spread as people rushed into the ration shop for safety. Padayappa then approached the truck, seized a sack of rice, and began to walk away. However, after residents shouted at him, he dropped the sack and slowly made his way back toward the forest.

As the elephant remained in the vicinity, the Rapid Response Team (RRT) was alerted. The team eventually managed to drive Padayappa back into the forest and maintained a night-long vigil near the ration shop to prevent his return.