Second Wayanad resident trampled to death by tusker in a week

Six days after a man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kerala's Wayanad, a temporary eco-tourism worker breathed his last at the Kozhikode Medical College & Hospital on Friday morning after suffering an elephant attack.

According to locals, the victim, Paul, was on his way to work in the Kuruva Island eco-tourism project when he came in front of a wild elephant which instantly attacked him.

He was first taken to a local hospital from where he was referred to Kozhikode, where he died.

On January 30, a local resident named Laxmanan was also killed by a wild elephant in the same district.

The latest incident took place just 4 km from the spot where Ajeesh, a tractor driver, was recently trampled to death by a tusker, following which the agitated locals had warned the authorities that their patience is running out.

“We will not perform the last rites of Paul until the Kerala government announces a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the family of the deceased,” said an angry local resident.

Paul is survived by his wife, a young daughter, and two ailing sisters.