KOCHI: A man was killed in an attack by a
stray wild elephant
in Kannimala estate near the tourist town of Munnar in the hilly district of
Idukki
, Kerala. The incident occurred on Monday night, adding to the recent incidents of
human-animal conflict
in the state. This comes after the deaths of two individuals in attacks by wild elephants in
Wayanad
, which have sparked protests by the local community.
The victim has been identified as 44-year-old Suresh Kumar, also known as Mani, who worked as an autorickshaw driver in Kannimala Top Division.
The incident took place when the autorickshaw driver was on his way to drop a family comprising Rajeena, a local woman, her husband and daughter at their home after the annual day celebration at the girl's school.
The autorickshaw was attacked and toppled by the elephant, police said.
Fortunately, the woman and her school-going daughter, along with some other passengers, narrowly escaped. However, Suresh Kumar was tragically killed in the attack.
Rajeena, one of the survivors, described the terrifying incident, said that the elephant blocked the road and attacked the autorickshaw. She said they were trapped beneath the vehicle and the driver was attacked by the animal when he attempted to exit.
"The elephant took him by the trunk and tossed him three times. We were rescued by some persons who were passing that way in a jeep. They helped us come out of the toppled vehicle after the elephant had moved away," she told the media from a hospital on Tuesday.
A senior police officer said that Suresh Kumar was critically injured and reportedly died before reaching a nearby hospital. "The other passengers, who suffered minor injuries, are currently recovering in the hospital," he added.
In response to the increasing incidents of human-animal conflict in the region, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is observing a dawn-to-dusk hartal in KDH Village, which includes Munnar Town. They are demanding a permanent solution to this issue.
The opposition Congress has also announced a roadblock in the region, raising the same demand.
Police said shops remained closed and the protestors stopped the vehicles in the region but no untoward incidents have been reported so far.
Devikulam MLA A Raja urged the government to provide adequate compensation and a job to the family of the victim Suresh Kumar.
"Urgent intervention is necessary to address the frequent attacks by wild elephants in the region. There are several rogue elephants and we want them to be relocated from here," he said.
Wayanad, another hilly district in Kerala, recently witnessed large-scale protests by local persons following the deaths of two individuals in wild elephant attacks.
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