Tribal farmer killed in wild elephant attack in Idukki, Kerala

Local people are staging a protest after a tribal farmer was killed in a wild elephant attack at Pandadikkalm near Santhanpara in Idukki on Wednesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A 47-year-old tribal farmer was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Panthadikkalam near Santhanpara, under Devikulam forest in Idukki on Wednesday morning. The deceased was identified as Vijayan, 47, a resident of Panthadikkalam tribal settlement.

Forest officials said Vijayan was returning to his farmland from a relative’s house. As he entered the road, he encountered a wild beetle locally known as “Chakkakompan”. Although he tried to escape, the elephant attacked him and stomped him to death. On hearing the trumpeting of the elephant, the local people rushed to the spot and found Vijayan’s body.

Officials added that the tusker entered Vijayan’s agricultural land on Tuesday evening. A rapid response team issued a warning advising residents to stay indoors. However, Vijayan believed that the animal had retreated into the forest and ventured out, leading to a fateful encounter.

Following the incident, local people and relatives of the victims staged a five-hour protest that prevented the authorities from moving the body. The protesters demanded the relocation of three problematic wild elephants from the area, a government job for one of Vijayan’s family members and the removal of illegal fencing on the land that blocks natural elephant corridors.

The tension eased after Munnar Divisional Forest Officer Abhay Yadav and Periyar Tiger Reserve Wildlife Assistant R. Lakshmi came to negotiate with the protesters. Forest officials agreed to consider their demands, with Ms. Lakshmi announcing the department’s decision to trap and relocate problem elephants from the Chinnakkanal area.

The police subsequently shifted the body to the Idukki Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.

Vijayan is survived by his wife Devi and four children Aneesh, Bineesh, Sethu Lakshmi and Vijayalakshmi.

Published – 23 Sep 2026 21:00 IST