Mahout’s son attacked by elephant in Top Slip succumbs

Police said, Ayyappan, son of mahout Karuppasamy was going by a walk through the forest area, when Durga, a female elephant left to graze near Kozhikamudi elephant camp, pushed him by its trunk and trampled him.

On hearing his loud cries for help, the other mahouts arrived and rushed Ayyappan to Vettaikaranpudur Government Hospital.

After first aid, Ayyappan was taken to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for further treatment.

However, Ayyappan died without responding to treatment on Thursday early morning hours. Ayyappan is survived by his wife Parimala and two girl children aged six and seven. There are about 25 elephants in the Kozhikamudi elephant camp including five kumkis. 

Each of these elephants is provided with a mahout and an assistant to take care of them. The chained elephants would be left to graze in the forests during the day and later they would retreat to the campsite after nightfall.

The Anaimalai police haveregistered a case in connection with the incident. Further investigations are on.