Udhagamandalam: A tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when a tribal youth was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kotagiri. The deceased has been identified as C Raghu, a 28-year-old member of the Irula tribe, hailing from the Thalamokkai settlement in Kotagiri.
Details of the Incident
According to forest officials, the incident took place around 2 a.m. when Raghu, along with some relatives and friends, was walking to a riverside temple near the forest fringe. A wild elephant that had strayed from the nearby forest suddenly intercepted the group and attacked Raghu, killing him on the spot. The darkness and the elephant's sudden proximity caught Raghu off guard.
Response by Authorities
Upon being alerted, a forest team promptly arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and sent it to the Kotagiri Government Hospital for a postmortem examination. Police also visited the location and registered a case. The forest department has initiated the compensation process and provided an initial payment of Rs 50,000 to Raghu's wife, Kaliammal.
Safety Advisory
Forest officials have urged residents, especially those in tribal settlements near forest boundaries, to exercise extreme caution. They warned that moving near forest areas at night significantly increases the risk of deadly encounters with wild animals. The Nilgiris forest division has also requested the public to immediately report sightings of dangerous wildlife outside forest limits through the toll-free helpline 1800-425-45456.
