Elephant gores man to death at Chakkimedu

KOCHI: A wild elephant gored a 31-year-old man to death in the wee hours of Thursday at a forest settlement at Chakkimedu, which is around 30km away from Kothamangalam town.
Jayan, the only wage earner in his six-member family comprising two kids, was trampled to death when he got out of house to answer nature’s call. The incident happened in the Thundathil range where elephant poaching cases have been reported.
K N Ramachandran Nair, Thundathil range officer said, “As it was dark, Jayan did not notice the elephant standing in his compound. When family members and neighbours rushed hearing his cry, Jayan was found lying a pool of blood with two deep wounds caused by two small tusks on his back. Though he was rushed to Kothamangalam Taluk hospital, Jayan breath his last on the way”.
When the hospital authorities handed over the body to the relatives of Jayan, they did not take it to Chakkimedu. Instead, they held a protest march by carrying the body to the forest office in Kothamangalam, demanding compensation to the family, a government job for Jayan’s wife and installation of solar fencing around the human habitation in the settlement. They were stopped by the police before the march reached the office compound.
Officials promised Rs 5 lakh compensation to the family and the installation of solar fencing protection around the settlement. Authorities have also deployed a rescue team for patrolling in the area.