Mullaringadu: Residents of Mullaringadu, a forest-bordering village in Idukki, have raised complaints that wild elephants are repeatedly damaging the protective fencing in the area — and doing so with surprising ingenuity.

According to locals, the elephants uproot trees and hurl them over the fence meant to keep them out of human settlements, causing the structure to collapse. The incidents have been reported along the Thalacode–Blathikavala road, near the Amayalthotti Forest Office. The damage is caused by three elephants which frequently roam the area.

The damage continues despite local farmers having raised the issue directly with Forest Minister A K Saseendran during his recent visit to the region. However, villagers allege that no action has been taken so far, even after submitting a formal complaint.

The DFO (divisional forest officer) has also failed to fulfil an assurance to clear the forest up to a width of 50 feet on both sides of the road, they added. It is alleged that the authorities had spent an amount of ₹3.50 lakh to install the fence. However, wild elephants are now frequently sighted in the areas where the forest is yet to be cleared on the roadsides, especially at night.

This road, which passes along Mullaringadu, Vellakkayam and Blathikkavala, is preferred by numerous travellers from Ernakulam heading to various tourism destinations in Idukki. "The authorities had also promised to deploy RRT (rapid response team) personnel to drive the wild elephants creating trouble in the area across the Periyar River. However, they have yet to keep their word. We want urgent measures to force the elephants back into the deep forest," said a local resident.