Estate worker killed by elephant

The deceased identified as Prem Kumar (32) of O Valley was at work in a tea estate when an elephant began to chase him.

“It was among the two elephants, which strayed into the tea estate at Ellamalai. The elephant attacked and trampled him to death on the spot,” forest department staff said.

“They then spotted an elephant standing near the body of Prem Kumar. Suddenly the wild jumbo began to chase the people, who then managed to flee to safety. As another wild elephant too came to the spot, villagers couldn’t go near the body of Prem,” said a staff.

On information, police and foresters arrived and chased away the elephants by bursting crackers. While the body was sent to Gudalur GH for a post mortem, angry villagers ghearoed the vehicles of officials demanding a permanent solution to elephant intrusions.