Workers living on the estates of Valparai are constantly being haunted by the fear of stray elephants that wander into human habitats. A herd of elephants has been troubling the region for the past two weeks, destroying houses, a temple, and a hospital.

Two elephants had wandered into the human habitat in Kanchamalai estate. One of them had stuck its trunks through he window of a house around 1.30 AM. The inmates of the house, a 55-year-old man and his granddaughter, ran for their lives while the elephants wrecked their house.

The elephants then turned their attention to a nearby temple, broke its door and scattered the puja articles. In Thaimudi estate, four elephants entered a hospital compound and damaged the articles randomly.

Agitated villagers have demanded that the forest officers drive these elephants back to the jungle.