A 70-year-old farmer was attacked by a wild elephant in Govanur village near Periyanaickenpalayam here early Thursday morning.
Forest department officials claimed that three elephants entered a brick kiln to eat palm tree stocks used as fuel in the kilns. One of the staff from the brick kiln pelted a stone at the elephants. At this time, the farmer was in the area, walking to his agricultural field when one of the elephants attacked him. He sustained injuries on his hands and legs and was admitted at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).
The injured person has been identified as R Ramasamy. His agricultural fields were located near the reserve forest area. Ramasamy did not notice the elephants. One of them suddenly charged at him and attacked him. He tried to escape but sustained severe injuries on his legs and hands.
“We got information and rushed to the spot. Immediately we sent him to Periyanaickenpalayam government hospital where he was given first aid and later he was referred to CMCH for advanced treatment. Doctors said that his condition is stable,” said C Palaniraja, forest range officer, Periyanaickenpalayam range.
More than 25 brick kilns have set up operations near the reserve forest area and all of them use palm tree stocks to fuel their kilns. Farmers in the area cultivate maize, plantain and sugar cane. Thus, the elephants frequently visited the kilns.