Bengaluru: A 60-year-old man was killed in a suspected wild elephant attack near Anchepalya, off Mysuru Road in Bengaluru, early Monday morning. The Forest Department has launched a search operation to trace the elephant, which fled the area following the incident.
The deceased has been identified as Nagaraj, a resident of Anchepalya. According to preliminary information, he had stepped out for his morning walk at around 5.30 a.m. when he was attacked. He was taken to a hospital for treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.
The incident took place behind Rajarajeshwari Medical College near Kengeri, an area falling under the Kaggalipura Forest zone. Forest officials suspect that the elephant may have entered the area from the nearby Bannerghatta forest region.
CCTV Captures Elephant Movement
Police and local residents suspect an elephant attack after two compound walls at the site were found damaged. CCTV footage from the area has also reportedly captured an elephant moving through the locality.
According to officials, the footage shows the animal moving at around 5.11 a.m. Authorities have also collected information about another person who had gone out for a morning walk and reportedly managed to escape the elephant at the last moment.
The presence of the elephant has caused concern among residents, with people reportedly reluctant to venture outside until the animal is traced.
Family, Villagers Protest Over Incident
Following Nagaraj’s death, his family members and local residents staged a protest at RR Hospital, alleging negligence by the Forest Department. They demanded that the Forest Minister visit the spot and announce immediate compensation for the deceased’s family. Nagaraj is survived by four daughters.
Family members said Nagaraj regularly went for morning walks and that residents had not previously encountered an elephant in the area.
His daughter Shobha said the family had also been out walking when they were alerted about an elephant in the area. She said they later searched for her father and found that he had been attacked.
“We have been going for morning walks for the past three years, almost every day, and no such incident had taken place before,” she said.
Forest Department Launches Search Operation
The Forest Department has begun efforts to locate and track the elephant following the incident. Police have also registered a case at Kumbalgodu Police Station and further investigation is underway.
The incident comes amid concerns over human-elephant conflict in Karnataka. In a separate incident, a 33-year-old tourist from Chennai was killed at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu district after two captive elephants clashed during a river bath, causing one of the elephants to fall on her.
Following that incident and other cases involving elephant-human interactions, the Karnataka government introduced restrictions on tourist interaction with elephants and mandated stricter safety distances.
The latest incident has once again raised concerns over the movement of elephants into areas inhabited by people.