Two women trampled to death by elephants in Kovai, Nilgiris

In the first incident, to Masinagudi police in Nilgiris, said a 60-year-old tribal woman from Mavanallah in Masinagudi was killed by a wild elephant when she and another woman were collecting firewood in the reserve forest area on Monday evening. The victim, K Maara (60), and her friend Maasiamma, who noticed the jumbo and realised that it was in an agitated mood, tried to flee the spot. While Maasiamma ran for about two km from that place to her village and alerted the villagers, Maara could not make it. She was trampled by the pachyderm causing severe internal injuries, including fractures. 

The villagers, who reached the spot, rushed her to the hospital, but she died on the way. Post mortem was conducted on her body on Tuesday and later it was handed over to her relatives. Forest department personnel said that an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 was given to her family and the remaining compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh would also be given to them soon.

In another incident in rural Coimbatore, T Saradha (50), a daily wage labourer, was trampled to death by a wild elephant in the land owned by farmer Ponnusamy at Pattiyar Kovilpathy on the Narasipuram Road around 6.45 am on Tuesday. Alandurai police said the woman along with her family from Setakullam in Triuchy had come here to work only a week ago. 

Preliminary inquiry revealed that she was attending nature’s call when the elephant attacked and killed her on the spot. Her body was sent to the government hospital for post-mortem and later handed over to the family. Forest personnel said investigations are under way in the case.