Man trampled to death by elephant herd

The Hindu
September 30, 2008


Udhagamandalam (PTI): A 52-year old man was trampled to death by a herd of elephants, including one calf, at Manjakombai near Coonoor in Nilgiris district.
According to forest department sources, four persons, who were returning home after their work last night, were chased by a group of five wild elephants. Though three of them managed to escape, one Selvaraj was trampled by the elephants to death, they said.
Meanwhile, the same herd of elephants waylaid a van at the nearby Thalakombai this morning. As the four occupants in the van managed to escape from the fury of elephants, the vehicle was damaged beyond recognition, the sources said.
Protesting against the incidents, the villagers squatted on the middle of Manjur-Coonoor road and blocked the traffic, demanding that elephants be chased away into deep forests.
Senior forest officials rushed to the spot and assured to take immediate and concrete action against the elephants, and the villagers lifted the blockade, after two hours, the source said.

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