Tragic Night Ends in Fatal Elephant Encounter
A 60-year-old farmer lost his life in a tragic encounter with a wild elephant in the early hours of Tuesday. The incident occurred near Rayakottai in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district, casting a pall of grief over the local community.
The deceased has been identified as Venkatesh, a resident of Kavipuram village. According to officials, Venkatesh had gone to his farmland, located near Uppupallam village, on Monday night. His purpose was a familiar and risky one for farmers in the area: to guard his crops from wild animals. Uppupallam is situated close to the Udedurgam forest, a known corridor for wildlife.
Search Leads to Grim Discovery
When Venkatesh did not return home by Tuesday morning, his worried family members initiated a search. Their worst fears were confirmed when they discovered his body in the farmland. The forest department and Rayakottai police were immediately alerted by locals.
Police officials swiftly arrived at the scene and recovered the body. It was then sent to the Denkanikottai Government Hospital for a postmortem examination to formally ascertain the cause of death. Forest department personnel confirmed the fatal injuries were consistent with an elephant attack.
Compensation and Ongoing Conflict
In the wake of the tragedy, the forest department has provided the grieving family with an initial compensation payment. The family received Rs 1 lakh as immediate relief. This compensation is part of the standard protocol for victims of human-wildlife conflict in the state.
This fatal incident underscores the persistent and escalating issue of human-animal conflict in regions bordering forests. Farmers like Venkatesh often find themselves on the front lines, risking their lives to protect their livelihoods from incursions by elephants and other wildlife. The tragedy near Rayakottai has reignited calls for more effective, long-term solutions to ensure the safety of both communities and animals.
