Pawan Kalyan orders vigilance as elephant herds move near Chandragiri

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Deputy Chief Minister and Forest Minister Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to step up surveillance and alert residents following the movement of elephant herds near Erravaripalem in the Chandragiri area of Tirupati district. Two elephant groups from the Seshachalam forest region have reportedly been moving near forest-border villages, particularly at night, damaging crops in nearby fields. Concerned over possible loss of life and property, Pawan Kalyan held a teleconference with Forest Department officials and instructed them to take immediate preventive measures.

He ordered officials to use drones to continuously track the elephants, identify their movement routes and share real-time information with people living in vulnerable villages. Night patrols should be intensified in forest-fringe areas, while residents should be advised against entering agricultural fields during risky hours. The Deputy Chief Minister also directed the Forest, Revenue and Police departments to coordinate closely and ensure that warnings reach villagers through public-address systems, mobile messages and local information networks.

He asked officials to deploy H.A.N.U.M.A.N. teams wherever necessary and ensure that field-level staff remain alert round the clock. Special attention should be given to areas where elephant movement is frequent, with preventive action taken before the animals enter residential or agricultural zones. Pawan Kalyan urged residents to remain calm but vigilant and strictly follow instructions issued by forest officials. He also stressed the need to prevent unnecessary confrontation between people and elephants. With crops already being damaged by the herds, the Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to promptly assess the losses. He assured that compensation for crop damage would be released through the Forest Department as soon as field-level reports are submitted.