Belthangady: Lone Elephant attacks car; injures 2

Belthangady: A lone tusker went on a rampage and attacked a car near Aniyur in Neraya here on Monday night, injuring 2 occupants.

The injured have been identified as Abdul Rahman (40) and Nasiya (30) from Puttur. They were treated at a private hospital in Kakkinje. They are said to be out of harm’s way.

At the time of the incident, seven people, including children were travelling in the car. Locals, who had noticed the pachyderm roaming nearby, alerted the car’s occupants to take precautions and get out of the car. By the time the car was parked near a building and people started alighting, the elephant reached the spot and attacked it, locals said.

Some of the car’s occupants managed to get down and take shelter in a nearby house.

Meanwhile, the elephant rammed the car into the wall of the building and then fled into a nearby plantation. Locals said the same elephant was later spotted near a rivulet in the area.

According to locals, the same elephant was roaming in the human habitations earlier in the day. Though it acted calm and docile during the daytime. It roamed around in that environment and went to the forest without causing any damage. However, as the night wore on, the pachyderm was riled by vehicle headlights.

The locals tried to chase it into the forest by bursting crackers, which seems to have further provoked the wild animal.

The locals said the pachyderms in the area usually destroy crops. But it is the first time a car has been attacked, they added.

Following the elephant attack, people living in the surrounding areas of Thotattadi, Neriya, Charmadi, Chibidre Mundaje etc. are fearful. This lone beetle has been roaming in the same area for many years, damaging agricultural areas. The injured have recovered

Meanwhile, a team led by Forest Officer Mohan Kumar, visited the spot and initiated action.