Tribal youth loses hand in firecracker blast near Pollachi

COIMBATORE: A 24-year-old tribal youth lost his right hand and suffered multiple burn injuries when firecrackers exploded in a farm in a village near Pollachi in the early hours of Wednesday.

The youth, identified as Muthukumar of Panapallam hamlet in Anaimalai, has been admitted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.

Villagers said the crackers exploded in Muthukumar’s hand when he lit them to chase a wild elephant away that entered the farm. However, forest officials denied it. They said that the crackers exploded accidentally and not when he attempted to chase the elephant.

Muthukumar was working as a guard in the farm, located close to Anaimalai Tiger Reserve. After midnight, there was a loud explosion followed by the screams of Muthukumar. When the villagers rushed to the spot, they found Muthukumar with severed right hand and burn injuries on thigh and chest. They took him to govt hospital in Pollachi from where he was referred to CMCH.

Villagers said it was common for wild elephants to stray into the farms in search of food and water. The elephant sightings would increase during summer when water sources in the forest would dry up. It is a practice of villagers to chase the elephants away using crackers.



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