Huge herd of elephants enters residential school premises near Chikkamagalur

CHIKKAMAGALUR: A herd of 30 elephants have camped at a private residential school campus close to the town, raising concern among locals and forest officials. Forest and police officials are keeping a watch on the movements of the herd all around the Amber Valley school.

The herd is believed to the one which created havoc in Belur and Sakleshpur. To prevent the entry of the herd into the town, checkpoints have been set up by the Forest Department and schools like Sai Angels and Infant Jesus Schools have been advised to declare holiday for children.

Checkpoints have been set up by the police and forest officials.

Residents of Moogtihalli, Adishakti Nagar, Adihalli, KR Pet, Valagerahalli, Nandikere, Kenchanahalli, Malaluru and others are living in fear and people are not being allowed to leave or enter the villages. Since the herd includes 5-6 calves, the Forest Department is weighing its options on driving the herd into the forest and to now allow its entry into the town.

The Forest officials were planning to close all roads and drive the elephant herd by bursting crackers in the evening, but the animals remained put under tree cover since morning. The presence of Bhima in the herd has added to the worries. Another problem was the herd split into 2-3 groups. The Forest Department was scheduled to take up an exercise to drive the elephants into the forest in the evening.