One person was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Thiruvalluvar colony in Suryanelli, near Munnar, in Idukki district on Wednesday morning. The deceased was identified as Sinkukandam resident Babu (60).
The incident took place around 6 a.m. in front of his house near the check dam road. The wild elephant that reached the area by midnight came near the house early morning. Babu, who was not aware of the presence of the pachyderm, was walking along the check dam road when he was attacked by the elephant from behind.
Local residents said wild animals have been frequenting the area recently and there were no serious steps on the part of the Forest department to chase them back. Most of the incidents of man-animal conflicts were reported in the Chinnakanal and Anayirangal areas. Last September, a woman on a motorbike was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Anayirangal early morning.
A Forest department official in Munnar said it was difficult to notice the presence of wild elephants due to fog, especially in the morning and at night. The victims often come close to wild elephants, he said, adding that people should be more careful while travelling early morning.
