YADGIR, 28 JULY 

Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Monday directed the forest department to maintain constant surveillance in areas prone to human–wildlife conflict and take all necessary measures to protect human lives and farmers' crops.

The directive comes in the wake of two recent deaths in elephant attacks near Balehonnur in the NR Pura taluk of Chikkamagaluru district.

Expressing grief over the fatalities, the minister, in a statement, stressed that forest officials must act immediately when elephants are spotted in human settlements. He said locals should be alerted promptly and emergency measures taken to drive the animals back into the forest.

"It is raining all over the state. Lakes and dams are full. The authorities should pay attention to why elephants are coming to the civilian areas, even though enough food is available in the forest and take action to prevent such disasters from happening in the future," the minister told ANI.

"There are complaints that elephant trenches have been blocked due to continuous rains, solar wire fences and tentacle fencing have fallen, and the electric connection has been cut off. These should be restored immediately. The forest patrol personnel should keep a constant watch on this," he said.