A preliminary post-mortem report has confirmed that the death of a 55-year-old tribal man within the Pampanpara and Churakkulam forest area under the Kanthalloor forest range of the Marayoor Sandal Division on Thursday evening was due to a wild elephant attack.

The deceased, identified as Murukan, a resident of the Churakkulam tribal settlement in Marayur in Idukki, was found dead near a rock within the forest area.

Locals initially alleged that Murukan was killed by a wild elephant, pointing to visible injuries on his body. However, the Forest department delayed confirming the cause of death pending further investigation. The body was later shifted to the Idukki Government Medical College, where the preliminary post-mortem report revealed that Murukan sustained broken ribs consistent with a wild elephant attack.

Marayoor Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) P.J. Suhaib confirmed the post-mortem findings. “The report indicates that the wild elephant threw him, resulting in his death. Initially, only a single wound was visible on his face, which did not immediately suggest an elephant attack. However, the post-mortem has now confirmed it,” the official said.

The DFO added that Murukan is suspected of accidentally crossing paths with the jumbo while heading home. “He was carrying firewood and likely did not notice the elephant’s presence. Forest officials had chased wild elephants away from the area on Wednesday evening, and the morning patrol found no elephants nearby. It is suspected that the animal suddenly emerged from the adjacent forest,” Mr. Suhaib explained.

According to officials, the Forest department has already handed over an initial compensation of ₹5 lakh to the victim’s family.

On Thursday evening, relatives of Murukan and residents of the area staged a protest in Marayur, refusing to accept the body until the first instalment of the compensation was distributed. Following a round of talks held in the presence of the Munnar DYSP, the money was handed over, and the relatives subsequently accepted the body after the post-mortem examination.

This incident marks the second fatality caused by wild elephants in the district within two weeks. On June 8, a 36-year-old woman named Mari was trampled to death, and her 11-year-old son was injured, in an elephant attack at Chinnakkanal under the Devikulam forest range near Munnar.