A 57-year-old man sustained injuries after the scooter he was riding collided with an unidentified wild animal on the Palakkad–Coimbatore Road. The incident occurred on Friday night near the Madukkarai forest range, prompting immediate action from forest authorities.
Details of the Nighttime Accident
The injured individual has been identified as N Sivasamy, a resident of Kovaipudur in Coimbatore. According to forest officers, the accident took place at 8:30 PM on Friday. Sivasamy was returning home from a quarry office in Madukkarai when the unexpected collision happened.
"Suddenly, an unidentified animal emerged from the reserve forest area," explained a forest officer. "The scooter hit the animal, causing Sivasamy to lose control and fall onto the road." Other motorists who witnessed the incident quickly came to his aid. They rushed him to a private hospital in Madukkarai and simultaneously alerted the forest department.
Forest Department's Investigation and Response
Officers from the Madukkarai forest range promptly visited the accident site and later met Sivasamy at the hospital. An initial examination revealed that there were no external injuries or nail marks on Sivasamy's body. This detail has made it challenging to conclusively identify the animal involved.
Madukkarai Forest Range Officer, V Thirumurugan, addressed public speculation. "While people claimed it was a leopard that hit the two-wheeler, we did not find any pugmarks (paw prints) in the area," he stated. However, he acknowledged the known risks of the location. "Since the place is known for frequent wild animal movements, there is a chance for a leopard or other wild animal to cross the road."
Precautionary Measures Implemented
In response to the incident and the ongoing risk, the forest department has taken a proactive step. As a precautionary measure, two cameras have been installed on Madukkarai Road. These cameras are intended to monitor and detect wild animal movements in the area, helping to prevent similar accidents in the future. This move highlights the increasing instances of human-wildlife interaction in zones bordering forest reserves.
