Wild elephants trampled to death a security guard and a farmer in separate incidents in Valparai and Hosur on Sunday, besides injuring another farmer. Angry residents of U Kothapalli village near Kelamangalam in Hosur staged a road blockade protesting the inability of the Forest Department in preventing wild animal incursion.
At Valparai, 37-year-old school security guard, Sathish Kumar, was trampled by a wild cow elephant in PTR division near Murugali Estate on Saturday night. The mother and its calf reportedly wandered into Murugali Estate and stood at the road when Sathish Kumar and his friends, Tirunavukkarasu and Jayan, crossed its path around 9 pm. The female elephant reportedly attacked the trio and trampled Sathish Kumar. The victim’s friends miraculously escaped. The wild herd reportedly entered the estate a couple of days ago.
“Earlier, our team members informed the residents and estate workers to avoid travelling during nights and near bushes. The trio too was asked to avoid walking. They did not heed our words,” said Mohammed Ali, Ranger, Manampalli Forest Range.
In Hosur, a herd of 30 wild elephants attacked Krishnappa (60), a farmer in Kothapalli village near Kelamangalam, and his friend Venkatesappa around 6 am. Krishnappa died on the spot while his friend was admitted at Denkanikotta GH
Many people gathered and raised slogans and blocked the Kelamangalam-Royakotta Road. Denkanikotta Tahsildar Chithra and forest officials and police assured them of action and compensation for the deceased family following which they dispersed.