In just two days, wild elephant attacks in the forest areas near Athirappilly and Vazhachal in Thrissur district have claimed the lives of three people, sending shockwaves through the local communities.The latest incident was reported from Vanchikkadav near the Athirappilly waterfall, where two residents of Vazhachal Ambika and Satheesh, were found dead on Tuesday morning. According to local sources, the duo had ventured into the forest on Monday to collect forest produce. When they failed to return by night, locals launched a search operation early Tuesday, only to find their lifeless bodies.Witnesses say the two may have tried to flee after encountering the wild elephant but were fatally attacked. Locals have expressed growing concern over the frequent presence of wild elephants in the area, which they say has become increasingly dangerous.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another tragic encounter on Sunday night in the nearby area of Athirappilly, where a 20-year-old man named Sebastian, son of Thampan, lost his life. Sebastian and his friends were returning after collecting honey from the forest when they were attacked by a wild elephant around 10 pm. While his friends managed to escape, Sebastian succumbed to the assault.The back-to-back deaths have sparked panic and outrage in the region, with residents urging authorities to take immediate steps to ensure their safety and address the growing threat posed by wild elephants.
