One person dies and another injured in jumbo attack, India

© Satish Hanumantha Rao

Elephant charging.

One person was killed and another injured in an elephant attack on Tuesday evening near Heggadde in Sakleshpur taluk, in the Kempuhole reserve forest area.

The deceased has been identified as Yuvaraj (45) and the injured as Manjaiah (60). The two persons had gone into the forest in search of their cattle when they were attacked by the elephant. While the latter, who fell unconscious, returned to the village later, the former did not. The villagers, who went in search of him on Wednesday morning, recovered his body.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Ganesh S. Bhat told on Wednesday that the officers were waiting for the injured person to recover to know how the incident happened. Mr. Majaiah is being treated at Sakleshpur hospital.

The department has not announced compensation for the death. "Since the incident happened in the forest limits, an inquiry has to be conducted to release compensation. The officers will look into why he went into the forest," the officer said. The State government gives a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the family of those killed by wild animals. The first instalment of Rs. 2 lakh is paid on the day of the incident if there are no disputes.

The residents of Sakleshpur kept Yuvaraj's body on Bengaluru-Mangaluru Road and staged a protest. They demanded that the government provide compensation to the family immediately. The protesters blocked vehicles on the road for more than an hour. Mr. Bhat said he would take an unbiased decision on the compensation soon after the inquiry was done.