Udhagamandalam: A 60-year-old woman was trampled to death by an elephant today at Mavanalla in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve area.

Mara was returning home around 7 pm with her goats sent out to graze when a herd of elephants came that way. Even before she could act, one of the elephants trampled her, resulting in her instantaneous death, police said.

Hearing her screams, villagers arrived only to find Mara lying dead in a pool of blood, they said.

Forest ranger Kanthan rushed to the spot and helped in taking the body to Government Hospital Gudalur, some 80 km from here.