Estate factory worker found dead following suspected wild elephant attack

A 62-year-old man was found dead following a suspected wild elephant attack at Kallar, near Munnar, on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as M. Raj, a resident of the Kallar tea estate under Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) in Munnar.

According to officials, Mr. Raj’s body was found in a nearby forested area on Tuesday evening. Relatives said he had gone to collect firewood around noon but did not return home. A subsequent search by relatives and local residents led to the discovery of his body, which bore a severe head injury.

While locals suspect he was killed by an elephant — given that herds regularly roam the Kallar area — forest department officials said there is no conclusive evidence yet. “We will only be able to confirm if a wild elephant attack caused the death after the post-mortem examination. The area is a known elephant habitat, but we currently have no direct proof of an attack,” a forest department source said. The body is being shifted to the Idukki Medical College for an autopsy.

Raj was a temporary worker at the KDHP tea factory in Kallar.