Panic gripped residents of Pannimadai near Coimbatore last night after a wild elephant strayed into the Varapalayam area, prompting people to scream and run for safety. The dramatic incident was captured on CCTV footage that has since gone viral.
According to forest department sources, elephant movement has been increasing in regions bordering the Western Ghats, including Thadagam, Pannimadai, Varapalayam, and Nanjundapuram. Elephants crossing from forest areas have been damaging crops, raiding cattle sheds for fodder, and destroying farm boundaries.
In the latest incident, a lone elephant entered the Varapalayam area of Pannimadai late last night. Startled villagers burst firecrackers to chase the elephant away, after which it retreated into the forest.
CCTV visuals also captured a man throwing a stone at the elephant as it approached a residential lane, showing the rising human–wildlife conflict in the area.
Local residents and farmers have appealed to the Forest Department to capture and relocate the elephant or implement preventive measures such as solar fencing and night patrols to stop wild elephants from repeatedly entering their villages.
