Elephants destroy paddy crop in Mandya

MANDYA: Elephants destroyed paddy crop worth lakhs near Dabbahalli village of Malavalli taluk on Saturday.
According to forest officers, a herd of eight elephants, which has come from nearby Shimsha forest, has destroyed the crops belonging to several farmers.
Farmer Puttarajegowda, whose crop has completely been destroyed, said that he has suffered huge financial loss. “My paddy crop was about to be harvested.I invested a lot of money to cultivate paddy on my 3acre land. I have lost it,” he rued.
The villagers urged the forest officers to provide adequate compensation to the affected farmers, failing which they would launch an agitation. They also urged the forest officers to find a permanent solution to end elephant menace.
The forest officers assured farmers that they would ensure compensation. Meanwhile, efforts to drive back the elephants to forest were under way.