A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday when a 75-year-old farmer, M. Kallappa, was trampled to death by a wild elephant near Soodachandram village, close to Thally in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. The attack occurred as Kallappa was on his way to his garden near Hosur. He was discovered lifeless at the scene by villagers, who promptly alerted local forest officials and law enforcement.

Swiftly responding to the community’s outrage, forest and police officials arrived and transported the body to the Krishnagiri Government Medical College and Hospital for a formal post-mortem examination. Simultaneously, a case was lodged with authorities to investigate the fatal incident.

The community’s grief quickly escalated into protest as villagers refused to accept Kallappa’s body, demanding the forest department remove the elephant from their area. They criticized officials for their failure to act on early warnings. After negotiations, authorities assured residents of enhanced safety measures and the removal of the elephant, leading villagers to yield and allow the funeral process to proceed.

This unfortunate death has reignited concerns about recurring human–elephant conflicts. It highlights the pressing need for preventive measures—such as setting up deterrents or physical barriers and monitoring elephant movement—to protect rural communities living near wildlife corridors.

Kallappa is survived by his wife, Chikkamma, and their four daughters. The incident underscores the urgent need for elevated wildlife management strategies, especially as such tragedies continue in regions where agricultural and elephant habitats intersect.