An 85-year-old woman was killed by a wild elephant which is believed to have come to the Deivamalai dump yard at Naduvattam to consume vegetable waste thrown away by the municipality.
Forest Department staff said that elephants were frequent visitors to the site, and that they are extremely concerned that people could be injured or killed when they cross paths with the elephants. The victim, G. Janaki, who was staying in a care home for destitute people, had been missing since December 14. She is believed to have wandered out from the facility and been roaming the roads near Naduvattam.
On Wednesday evening, she was walking along the stretch of road, around 200 metres from the dump yard when she came face to face with a male elephant. The startled elephant attacked the woman, severely injuring her in the process before fleeing into the forest.
District Forest Officer (Gudalur Division), P.K. Dileep said that forest staff rescued the woman and took her to the Gudalur GH, where she was given first aid before being referred to Ooty. She succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, and an autopsy was performed on her body.