Youth’s selfie bid with jumbos leaves him bruised

According to police, O Williams, of Karnataka, his wife Jennifer and friend Santhosh had visited their relative’s house in a Krishnagiri village and were returning home on two-wheelers, when the incident happened on Saturday night. 

A herd of elephants camping at Vattavadivuparai over the last few days were crossing the Anjetty-Denkanikottai road at Marakatta. Traffic was blocked on the stretch for more than half an hour due to the movement of the elephants. Williams, who took the route, noticed the elephant herd and attempted to take a selfie. 

“Even as the public kept watching, Williams moved forward and took a couple of selfies with the elephants in close quarters using his mobile phone. Suddenly an elephant charged him,” Forest Department staff said. The jumbo lifted him by its trunk and flung him to the ground. 

A severely injured Williams was rushed to the Denkanikottai Government Hospital and then shifted to a private hospital in Bengaluru for further treatment. He was said to be out of danger.