One person was killed and another seriously injured in a wild elephant attack near Ayyankolli in Gudalur on early Friday (May 8, 2026).
The deceased has been identified as Chemban (65), an Adivasi resident in the area. According to officials, Chemban and his son-in-law, Vishnu, were returning home through a tea estate around 3 a.m. after attending a temple festival when they were attacked by a herd of wild elephants.
In the incident, Chemban died from his injuries while Vishnu has been taken to hospital for treatment. The forest department is investigating the incident and will release compensation to the next of kin of Chemban.
Protests staged
Residents of Masinagudi, primarily business owners closed their shops for one day as a mark of protest against restrictions to tourist vehicles being prohibited from using the Kalhatti Ghat Road. They claim that the restrictions have severely impacted businesses due to reduced tourist footfall within the tiger reserve.
The vehicle safari operators also attached black flags to their vehicles to show their protest.
Published – May 08, 2026 04:17 pm IST
