Wild elephants damage crops in GD Nellore

Chittoor: A herd of wild elephants from Koundinya sanctuary, Palamaner stormed into farm fields and caused severe damage to banana, mango and sugar cane crops at Kotrakona village, Gangadhar Nellore mandal on Saturday night.

The farmers have lodged a complaint with the Divisional Forest Officer, Chittoor for taking immediate action to drive out the wild tuskers from their fields. Veerappa Naidu, a farmer and resident of Kotrakona, GD Nellore mandal speaking to media decried that the elephants have damaged his three acres of banana and sugar cane crop incurring a loss to a tune of Rs 10 lakh.

He said the farmers of several villages were spending sleepless nights due to the threat of elephants. Similarly, Lakshmamma of the same village said she and her son were escaped narrowly from the attacks of the elephants when they tried to drive out the elephants from their fields.

Meanwhile, Ravi Sankar, Divisional Forest Officer (west) visited GD Nellore on Sunday and alerted the forest guards to take immediate action to drive out the elephants from the vulnerable points for safeguarding the interest of farmers.