Parvathipuram Manyam district forest officer GAP Prasuna alleged that elephants uprooted coconut trees to eat the tender parts of the roots. “In the process, they destroyed around 180 trees in the first few hours,” he said, adding that compensation of Rs 2,000 would be provided for each tree. He mentioned that the applications have already been collected and are currently being processed to pay the compensation amount to the farmers.
Prasuna urged residents of nearby villages to remain alert and not provoke the elephants, noting that forest officials are tracking the herd. Recently, a 75-year-old farmer was killed by elephants in Peda Bondapalli village.