Andhra Pradesh: Elephant attack in Seshachalam Forest claims lives of devotees

Elephant attack in Andhra Pradesh

A herd of elephants attacked a group of devotees strolling through the Seshachalam forest on their way to Lord Shiva's temple at Talakona in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district for the Mahashivratri celebrations, killing at least three of them and injuring several more on Tuesday morning.

According to a police officer, the devotees tried to scare the elephants by shouting. “...the elephants became aggressive. ...the elephants encircled and attacked them,” The Hindustan Times quotes the police official as saying.

The elephants stomped on several of the devotees as they fled for their life, killing five of them instantly and injuring numerous others. Officials from the police and forest department hurried to the scene and began a rescue effort. According to the police officer, "the injured were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where doctors have said that the condition of two remained critical."

Police informed that the devotees who were killed were from Urlagaddapadu village in the Railway Koduru Mandal.

Knowing about the tragic incident, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the persons trampled to death by elephants. He has also announced a financial help of Rs 5 lakh each to those injured.

Expressing shock over the incident, Pawan Kalyan has ordered the officials to make suitable arrangements to ensure security of devotees visiting temples in forest areas.