An elephant trampled a 55-year-old tribal to death near Solurmattam, and the herd to which it belonged stood guard around the lifeless body, stopping others from getting close to it.

The incident took place at around 8.30 in the morning when the deceased, Ramasamy, was heading to the bus stand. An elephant appeared from behind the bushes, threw him on the ground and trampled him under its foot. Ramasamy was killed on the spot. Forest officials rushed to the spot to retrieve the body, but they were met with a herd of seven elephants that had surrounded the body and stopped them from getting near it.

The officers were trying out all known tactics to drive the elephants away.