Following the tragic death of an 80-year-old woman in a wild elephant attack at Piravanthur in Kollam, VB-G RAM G workers have demanded an immediate escalation in night-time patrolling and Rapid Response Team (RRT) surveillance. Highlighting the systemic gaps in local safety measures, they said that the authorities must take proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable rural labourers working in high-risk zones.
“There should be seamless coordination between local self-government institutions and the Forest department. This is vital to enforce pre-work safety inspections and hazard assessments across all active VB-G RAM G deployment areas, ensuring that no more lives are lost to preventable wildlife incursions,” they said.
Rajamma, a resident of Kadassery, was attacked and instantly killed by a wild elephant while on her way to her work site on Monday. According to eyewitnesses, the animal had suddenly emerged from the nearby forest, grabbed her with its trunk, and hurled her to the ground.
‘Need concrete, decisive action’
Locals residents said that solar fences and trenches constructed by the Forest department in various locations to deter wild elephants have become dysfunctional due to a lack of maintenance. They added that they had submitted complaints to the department multiple times, to no avail. Expressing deep frustration, residents declared that empty promises from officials are no longer acceptable and demanded concrete, decisive action.
According to Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) district committee, the Forest department’s negligence led to the tragedy. The CITU leaders said that it is deeply deplorable that impoverished workers, striving for a livelihood, are now forced to live in constant fear even at their workplaces. They alleged that the tragedy was a direct result of the Forest department’s apathy in protecting human lives and property, despite severe threats from wild animals such as elephants and wild boars in the Piravanthur region.
“Poor planning and a lack of coordination by the department have continually sparked public outrage,” said CITU district secretray S. Jayamohan.
Adding that the workers had repeatedly complained about persistent wildlife menaces in the area, Mr. Jayamohan criticised the authorities for failing to properly implement or maintain preventive infrastructure like solar fencing and trenches. The union also demanded that the RRT urgently restore damaged solar fences and trenches along forest borders on a war footing.
Published – October 06, 2026 04:53 pm IST
