Muralidharan Pillai
Mohanpur-5, North Andaman, July 27: An Elephant today attacked a private passenger bus in Mohanpur -5 area, causing damages to the bus, but no one is injured in this accident.
According to details available here the private bus of SS Transport left for Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands from Diglipur Island at around 7.30 am today along with a STS bus. Both buses reached Mohanpur area of Middle Andaman at around 8.40 am.
After tea break the SS Transport bus started for Port Blair before the STS bus. According to passengers when the Bus reached near Mohanpur-5 area of Middle Andaman they saw the ‘Musth’ elephant standing on the middle of the Andaman Trunk Road.
The driver of STS bus, which was just behind SS Transport Bus, however noticed some movement inside jungle at Mohanpur -5 and took a u-turn fearing elephant attack but before the SS Transport Driver could understand anything, the elephant was standing infront of him.
Out of panic the driver, conductor and passengers ran towards the STS bus and suddenly then the Elephant attacked the empty Bus and damaged the windshield as well as the Cargo holder.
The bus also suffered a couple of dents on the front side.
The passengers of SS Transport were later sent to Port Blair by N & M District Administration in STS Baratang Express.
After this the Elephant attacked a Crane. The driver of the Crane anyhow managed to runaway with minor injuries. The Elephant however could not move the Crane much.
After that the Elephant again attacked a Road Roller but this time the Elephant reportedly got hurt. Out of anger the elephant then damaged a shed made up of Aluminum sheets.
Soon SP of N & M Andaman, Dy.S.P and AC of Diglipur reached the spot with 10 constable and Forest Staffs, fully armed. According to reports some blanks rounds were fired on air, which drove the Elephant back in jungle.
Every year politicians of North and Middle Andaman discuss about this problem during District Planning Committee meeting but sadly no action has been taken yet to keep the Andaman Trunk Road safe from elephant attacks.
According to sources, the Forest and Police Department may use Tranquilizers tomorrow on the Elephant if this problem continues.
An Executive Magistrate from the Diglipur has been posted in the area to monitor and control the situation.
“One elephant which probably belongs to Forest Department is causing damages to properties since morning. The elephant also damaged roof of a house in Mohanpur. Now the elephant has been brought under control,” Santoosh Kumar Meena the Superintendent of Police of North and Middle Andaman told Andaman Sheekha today.
