Forest watcher injured in wild elephant attack at Athirappilly

A forest watcher was injured in a wild elephant attack at Pillappara, near Athirappilly, here on Saturday, forest officials said on Sunday.

The injured has been identified as Subhash, 45, a native of Pillappara who worked as a forest watcher in Athirappilly. According to forest officials, the incident occurred around 7.45 p.m. After they received information that a wild elephant had strayed onto the road at Pillappara, Subhash, along with forester Divakaran, went to the area to drive away the elephant. While they were returning, the elephant suddenly charged from behind.

Leg fractured

Both men tried to flee but Subhash slipped and fell into a roadside thicket. The elephant trampled him, causing a fracture in his leg, and injured him with its trunk, a forest official said. Later, other forest officials arrived at the scene, drove the elephant away and rescued Subash.

The injured man was first admitted to a private hospital in Chalakudy and later shifted to Thrissur. He sustained multiple fractures and is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), forest officials added.