Tragedy Strikes at Iyerpadi Tea Estate
A devastating leopard attack has claimed the life of a five-year-old boy in Coimbatore district. The incident occurred on Saturday night at the Iyerpadi tea estate near Valparai, sending shockwaves through the local community.
The victim has been identified as R Saiful Alam, the young son of Rojavelli (40). The family, originally guest workers from Assam, resided in the staff quarters of the tea plantation.
The Fatal Attack and Immediate Aftermath
According to a forest officer, the tragedy unfolded around 7:15 PM on Saturday. Rojavelli's three children were playing in front of their living quarters when a leopard launched a sudden and brutal assault.
The big cat grabbed Saiful and dragged him into the nearby bushes. A neighbour, alerted by the child's cries of distress, immediately informed the estate officer about the horrifying incident.
Upon receiving the alert, field staff from the forest department rushed to the location and initiated an intensive search operation in the area.
Body Recovered, Postmortem Ordered
"The boy was found dead within the tea estate itself, with visible injuries on his body," the forest officer stated. The field staff successfully recovered the child's remains.
The body was subsequently sent to the government hospital in Valparai for a formal postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death and document the injuries.
In a gesture of immediate support, the officer confirmed that an initial compensation amount would be provided to the victim's family on Sunday. This tragic event highlights the ongoing and severe challenges of human-wildlife conflict in regions bordering forest areas.
The incident has left the tea estate community, particularly the migrant worker families, in a state of profound grief and heightened fear.
