Man dies while attempting to escape wild elephant attack in Coimbatore

Coimbatore: A 34-year-old man died when he reportedly fell on the road while attempting to escape a wild elephant attack near Narasipuram in Coimbatore district late on Wednesday night.

The deceased has been identified as Suresh Abhimanyu of Pooluvapatti in Coimbatore district.

Forest department officials said Abhimanyu and his two friends, Saravanan and Murugesh, planned to stay overnight at a place near Vaidehi Falls on Wednesday night. All three were heading towards Vaidehi Falls from Narasipuram village on a motorcycle. Saravanan was riding the motorcycle, with the other two riding pillion.

When they reached Kalaimagal Thottam, a wild elephant suddenly crossed the road and began to chase them. In a state of panic, Abhimanyu and Saravanan jumped off the motorcycle and began to run for safety.

Abhimanyu fell on the road and suffered injuries on his hip and a bleeding injury on his forehead. He was rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Meanwhile, forest department officials said there were no signs of an elephant attack at the location mentioned by the survivors, and that the accident spot was at least 700 metres away from the forest boundary. The official added that the exact cause of death can be ascertained only after a postmortem.