Kerala Man Fatally Trampled by Wild Elephant in Coimbatore Forest
A tragic incident unfolded in the Anaikatti forest area of Coimbatore district, where a 56-year-old man from Kerala lost his life after being trampled by a wild elephant. The victim, identified as M Mayilan from Palakkad district in Kerala, was discovered in a decomposed state on Tuesday in the Kolikandimoolai region of the forest.
Details of the Incident and Investigation
According to the Thadagam police, Mayilan had traveled to Anaikatti on March 15 to visit his 25-year-old son, M Manikandan, who is a student at a private college in the area. After the visit, Mayilan failed to return home, prompting his son to file a missing person complaint with the authorities.
On March 23, forest department personnel on routine patrol in the Anaikatti forest came across the decomposed body and immediately alerted the Thadagam police. Officers visited the scene and conducted a thorough investigation. Manikandan later identified the body as that of his father.
During the investigation, police found elephant footprints at the site where the body was located. Further examination revealed that Mayilan had sustained severe injuries consistent with an attack by an elephant. Based on these findings, the Thadagam police registered a case to document the incident.
Postmortem and Aftermath
The body was transported to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for a postmortem examination. After the necessary procedures were completed, the remains were handed over to the grieving family for final rites.
This incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with human-wildlife conflicts in forested regions, particularly in areas like Anaikatti where elephants are known to roam. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
