Four people were injured, including one seriously, after an autorickshaw they were travelling in was overturned by a fleeing elephant at Kallar near Munnar in Kerala’s Idukki district. The incident took place on Wednesday morning when two elephants, locked in a fight, caused chaos in the area, according to forest officials.
The Incident
The injured individuals, all sanitation workers, were on their way to a waste dumping yard at Kallar when the accident occurred. The yard, which remains unfenced, frequently attracts wild animals in search of food, making it a hotspot for human-wildlife encounters.
According to forest officials, the incident happened when two elephants, present in the area since Tuesday, got into a fierce fight. Following the altercation, one of the tuskers tried to escape and inadvertently collided with the autorickshaw carrying the workers, causing it to overturn.
“Two elephants were present in the area since Tuesday, and we had conveyed this information. The elephants got into a fight with each other, and after that, one of them fled from there. While fleeing, it accidentally turned over the autorickshaw the sanitation workers were travelling in,” a forest official stated.
Injuries and Response
Of the four injured, a woman sustained serious injuries, including a fractured leg, while the other three suffered minor injuries. The injured were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The elephants involved in the incident were subsequently chased back into the forest by the forest department’s rapid response team, ensuring no further threats to the public.
Recurring Issue and Safety Concerns
This incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by wild animals frequenting unfenced waste dumping yards. The area, a known habitat of wild elephants, has seen multiple encounters between humans and wildlife in the past. Officials pointed out that the dumping yard serves as a food source for the animals, attracting them to the location and increasing the likelihood of conflict.
Forest officials have previously urged the local panchayat to install fencing around the dumping yard to prevent wild animals from entering. However, the requests have not been addressed, leaving workers and residents vulnerable to such incidents.
“The panchayat was asked several times to fence the waste dumping yard, but this has not been done till date,” a forest official said. The lack of action has not only endangered sanitation workers but also poses a continual risk to local residents who frequent the area.
Human-Wildlife Conflict in Kerala
Kerala’s dense forests and extensive wildlife population often result in human-animal conflicts, especially in regions like Idukki where settlements and wildlife habitats intersect. Elephants, drawn by the smell of food from dumping yards, frequently enter populated areas, creating a precarious situation for both residents and the animals themselves.
Wildlife conservationists have stressed the need for better management of waste and fencing of vulnerable areas to reduce the chances of such encounters. They also advocate for awareness programmes to educate locals on how to react when they encounter wild animals.
Way Forward
The incident at Kallar serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in Kerala and the urgent need for preventive measures. Ensuring the safety of both humans and wildlife requires coordinated efforts from local authorities, forest officials, and community members. Fencing critical areas, managing waste responsibly, and enhancing early warning systems can significantly mitigate the risks and ensure safer coexistence.