2 die after two-wheelers crash into wild boars, estate worker attacked by leopard

Police said A Abdul Nazar, a betel nut trader from V Puram was returning home in a vehicle, when a wild boar came his way near Samayapuram in Mettupalayam around 9pm.

“He didn’t notice the boar which was crossing the road since it was dark. Upon ramming into the animal, Abdul fell off his vehicle and sustained severe head injury. Some passerby going by the way informed the 108 ambulance and took him to Mettupalayam Government Hospital,” police said.

After examination, the doctors however declared him dead.

Then, the body was handed over to relatives after a post mortem on Tuesday. In another incident, K Chokkalingam, 67, a farmer from Angalakurichi near Pollachi died after ramming into a wild boar on Pollachi to Valprai Road around 10.45 pm, while returning home.

He was taken to Kottur government hospital; however, he was declared brought dead.

The kin of the deceased persons were handed over an initial cash compensation of Rs 50,000 by the forest department.

In another incident, a woman tea estate labourer came under leopard attack at Thaimudi Estate in Valparai on Tuesday morning around 10.30 am.

The labourer identified as Saraswathi was involved in plucking tea leaves, when a leopard emerged from the thicket and pounced on her. She was grounded in the fiery attack, but luckily escaped with minor injuries.

When other shocked workers came rushing to her rescue, the animal fled into the wild leaving the woman without harming further.

The victim has been admitted to a hospital in Mudis and the forest department has stepped up vigil.