Omkar once again crosses Terekhol to enter state

Panaji: The sub-adult elephant, Omkar, has once again crossed into Goa, through Kadshi in Mopa over the weekend. The elephant reportedly crossed the Terekhol from Maharashtra at around 2am on Saturday, marking a repeat of a similar movement recorded earlier.

According to the Goa forest department, Omkar is currently believed to be sheltering within orchards or forested patches in the Kadshi-Mopa belt. While the animal has not been directly photographed, its presence was confirmed by field staff who tracked its movement following alerts from villagers across the state border.

Officials said the elephant appears to have been driven out of adjoining areas in Maharashtra by coordinated efforts of local villagers, prompting its movement into Goa. Authorities, however, have flagged concerns due to the ongoing cashew harvesting season, which sees increased human activity in plantations.

“Villagers have been advised not to venture out at night. In daylight, both humans and the elephant can avoid each other, but in darkness, a sudden encounter could trigger panic on either side,” chief conservator of forests Naveen Kumar told TOI.

The forest department, in coordination with the local panchayat, police and revenue authorities, has stepped up monitoring in the area. Teams are on standby to track Omkar’s movement and ensure that the situation remains conflict-free.

Officials said that the elephant is not aggressive, but warned that close encounters, especially in low-visibility conditions, could lead to unpredictable behaviour. Plans are in place to guide the animal back towards its exit route into Maharashtra once it begins moving in that direction.

For now, authorities are focusing on maintaining calm in the village while ensuring public safety and minimal disturbance to the animal.

Omkar first entered Goa in Sep 2025 before returning to Maharashtra and eventually reuniting with his herd in Jan this year. Moving across the Sawantwadi-Dodamarg border area from Maharashtra, it is now in Pernem taluka, actively destroying standing crops in its wake.

Tambose-Mopa-Ugve sarpanch Subodh Mahale issued an urgent public safety advisory on Sunday. Villagers have been strongly cautioned to avoid travelling alone at night, to move strictly in groups, and to avoid provoking the animal if sighted. While Maharashtra govt had previously decided to capture the tusker to provide a permanent solution, the operation remains deadlocked in legal complications. A petition filed by a social organisation has stalled the capture campaign in court. Desperate farmers from border-areas are pleading for swift govt intervention to safeguard their lives and livelihoods.