Jumbo attack: Milk vendor killed, ration shop damaged

Coimbatore

According to the forest department, Ramesh (35) from Viraliyur near Thondamuthur was on his way to source milk in a two-wheeler, when he was attacked by an elephant.

“The milk vendor did not notice the wild elephant standing in the middle of the road. As he rode closer, the elephant attacked him. The animal lifted and flung him to the ground,” said a forest department staff.

On hearing the loud noise, a team of anti-depredation, who were on night patrol rushed to the spot. They were shocked to find Ramesh battling for life and rushed him to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

However, the milk vendor was declared brought dead. In this regard, the Alandurai police have registered a case. Villagers in the neighbourhood claimed that a lone elephant has been wandering around in Narasipuram and its surrounding areas. They urged the forest department to deploy a Kumki to drive away the elephant into the forest cover.

Meanwhile in Valparai, a herd of seven elephants damaged a ration shop run by a Women’s Self Help Group at Sangiliroad Estate, on Wednesday. The elephants damaged a nearby grocery shop owned by Yesudas and devoured the food items. The estate labourers immediately reached the spot in lorries and chased away the elephants by raising loud noise.