Mapusa: Fear and panic gripped the residents of the Kadashi-Mopa area early Monday morning after a sub-adult elephant named ‘Omkar’ entered a residential settlement and damaged two parked vehicles.The elephant, which recently crossed over from the Maharashtra border, had rested near the residential vicinity on Sunday night before causing the rampage.According to locals, the incident occurred around 6.30am when the elephant, following its natural habit of rubbing its limbs against trees to scratch itself, began rubbing against a parked van. The force of the massive animal caused the van, belonging to Umesh Gad, to roll down a nearby hillock.Omkar then used its trunk to violently push a two-wheeler owned by Gitesh Shetye. The elephant severely damaged both the vehicles.Beyond the property damage, the tusker has been causing widespread destruction to agriculture in the area. Farmers reported heavy losses as the elephant raided cashew plantations, destroying cashew trees and uprooting banana crops. In its march through the settlement, it also damaged a protective compound wall before retreating into the nearby forest stretch.
The forest department has deployed staff to closely monitor the elephant’s movements and prevent further conflict. However, local residents have expressed growing concern over the animal’s frequent proximity to human settlements and have called for immediate govt intervention to ensure public safety and safeguard their livelihoods.
