Senior citizen killed by elephant in India

A senior citizen was killed by an elephant in Hulaginakoppa village in Kalghatagi taluk of Dharwad district on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Ramappa Tadas (75), resident of the same village. Sources said Ramappa had taken his cattle for grazing and sighted movement in a nearby sugarcane field.

Mistaking it for a buffalo, he tried to chase it away, but the elephant trampled him instead.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sabakath Hussain told The Hindu that the incident took place at around 5.30 p.m. Officials of the Department of Forests rushed to the spot and chased the elephant into the nearby forests.

Mr. Hussain said five wild elephants were seen in a nearby village and officials had driven them away on Friday.

But Monday's elephant attack was unexpected. The department will provide compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, of which Rs. 2 lakh would be handed over to the family immediately, he said. The department was taking al precautionary measures to avoid such incidents in the area, he added.