A “killer” elephant has reportedly claimed its eleventh victim, an auto-rickshaw driver, after rampaging through Indian villages.
Paraj, 57, was crushed in his taxi when the elephant known as Arikomban came through, according to local media.
Paraj is said to have suffered a severe head injury and internal bleeding as he failed to get out of the vehicle in time.
Social media footage shows the moment a barking dog alert villagers to the arrival of the elephant wreaking havoc on the town of Cumbum in the state of Tamil Nadu in recent days.
The enormous mammal, that can run at speeds of 40kmph, is seen turning a corner before charging at terrified people.
#Arikomban in Cumbum town pic.twitter.com/fkco0Ifhfo
— Bobins Abraham Vayalil (@BobinsAbraham) May 27, 2023
It reportedly injured three more people before retreating back into the vast forest.
The elephant has reportedly killed 11 people and destroyed 300 houses and shops across the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in recent years.
Arikomban, translated to “rice tusker”, was named by locals can after his fondness raiding rice shops.
He has been caught several times and relocated to nature reserves but activists have fought to free him.
It is believed the latest rampage came after Arikomban was spooked by a YouTuber who flew a drone above the elephant causing him to charge out of farmland and into populated areas.
Authorities in the area had urged residents to stay indoors over the weekend as they attempted to tranquilise and relocate the elephant.
Previously Tamil Nadu’s state forest department planned to capture Arikomban and make him a trained captive elephant. But animal welfare activists petitioned the Kerala high court against this.
