JOIN USFive rogue elephants including a calf had strayed into Herur, Narur, Uchchangi and other surrounding villages in Yasalur hobli in the taluk since a week and destroyed coffee crops and other properties worth lakhs of rupees.
Coffee, banana plants and cardamom grown in lands belonging to farmers H H Arun, Shanthappa, Somashekar, Lokesh, Narayan, Subbaiah, Sannappa and others were stomped incurring huge losses to them. The pipes that were used to water the crops were also damaged beyond repair, the farmers lamented.
A herd of elephants are said to have strayed from Uchchangi Herur mountain range into the villages and have raided the farms. The pachyderms which had taken refuge amid the plantation around 15 days earlier had also done enough damage to the crops, farmers said.
The farmers also added that when complained to forest officials, they cited their helplessness.
Taluk APMC committee president H H Uday stressed the government to look into the matter seriously and provide a permanent solution to their problems.