A devastating incident occurred in the Kadambur forest area of Erode’s Sathyamangalam taluk during the early hours of Tuesday, September 16, 2025, when a 38-year-old farmer tragically lost his life after being trampled by a wild elephant. This shocking event has sent ripples of fear and concern throughout the local community.
The victim, identified as Prabhu, aged 38, hailed from Elanchi village. For the past year, he had been working on an eight-acre farm owned by 41-year-old Prakash, where valuable coconut and banana crops are grown. Due to the frequent threat of wild elephants encroaching upon farmlands and causing significant damage, it’s a common practice for villagers to organize night vigils to protect their livelihoods.
On the fateful Monday night of September 15, Prabhu was diligently guarding the banana grove. At approximately 3 a.m., a solitary elephant unexpectedly ventured onto the farm. Alerted by the commotion, Prabhu quickly contacted his fellow farmers, Shanmugam and Chinnababu, and bravely attempted to deter the animal. However, the situation quickly escalated as the elephant suddenly became aggressive and charged. In a desperate attempt to escape, Prabhu unfortunately slipped and fell, at which point the elephant tragically trampled him to death before retreating back into the dense forest. Shanmugam and Chinnababu, arriving moments later, discovered Prabhu’s lifeless body.
Following the tragedy, officials from the Kadambur police and forest department promptly arrived at the scene. They recovered Prabhu’s body, which was then transported to Sathyamangalam Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Prabhu leaves behind his wife and two young children, making this loss even more poignant. This tragic incident has deeply shaken the local community and once again brought to the forefront the critical and ongoing issue of wild elephant incursions from the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve into human settlements.