Chikkamagaluru, July 28 -- Karnataka Forest, Biology, and Environment Minister Ishwar B. Khandre on Monday instructed that senior officials should maintain a constant watch on areas where there is a human-wildlife conflict and take all necessary steps to protect the precious lives of people and farmers' crops.

Two persons have died in elephant attacks near Balehonnur in N.R. Pura taluk of Chikkamagaluru district in the last four days.

Expressing deep grief over the deaths, he directed that forest officials should take immediate action as soon as elephants are spotted in the state, and local residents should be informed. Urgent action should be taken to return the elephants to their natural habitat in the forest.

"It is raining all over...