A 48-year-old farmer was trampled to death by an elephant near his farm in Sirumugai in Coimbatore district.

The wild elephant had entered the farm of Ganeshamurthy, at around 10.30 PM yesterday, and started eating the vegetables. Hearing the noise, Ganeshamurthy came out of the house and flashed the torchlight on.

Seeing the light, the elephant became wild and started chasing Ganeshamurthy, who ran for safety. However, the pachyderm caught the farmer and trampled him to death, the police said.

Hearing the trumpeting of the elephant, the relatives and some villagers rushed to the area and informed the forest department officials, who also managed to drive the elephant back into the jungle.

The villagers complained that they were unable to see the wild animals entering the human habitat due to the unwanted weeds and grass that were blocking their view. In protest, they refused to send the body for post mortem. But the forest and district officials managed to pacify them and assured that necessary steps will be taken in this issue.

The body was taken to the Mettupalayam Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.