Mangaluru: Karnataka Forest Department has launched a major operation to capture a wild elephant which killed two people in Kadaba Taluk.
Ranjitha (22) and Ramesh Rai (55) lost their lives on Monday morning after being attacked by the wild elephant in Renjaladi village of Kadaba Taluk in Dakshina Kannada district.
Ranjitha was on her way to work at the local milk society, when the tusker attacked her. Ramesh Rai, a resident of the village who was nearby, rushed to rescue her. But the elephant turned to him.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among the villagers, who demanded strict measures to ensure their safety.
Responding to the villagers' demands, the forest department sprang into action, bringing in five experienced elephants from Dubare and Nagarahole elephant camps in a truck. The elephants are trained in the operation to capture wild elephants.
The officials formed three teams and initiated the operation to spot and capture the wild elephant. They used a drone to track the animal's movements.
Once captured, the elephant will be transported from the forest to an elephant camp.
The operation is being led by Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Dinesh Kumar, along with ACF Praveen Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Range Forest Officers N Manjunath R Girish, and Raghavendra. Expert doctors are also part of the team.
"Our teams were able to spot the elephant. But the terrain is hard. The operation was stopped in the evening. We will resume it on Wednesday morning," Dinesh Kumar, told Deccan Chronicle.
Meanwhile Deputy leader of Congress in Karnataka Assembly and Mangaluru MLA UT Khader has asked the state government to provide Rs 25 lakh compensation to the kin of the two victims and also declared bravery award for Ramesh Rai who died while trying to rescue Ranjitha.
