Thrissur: The postmortem reports of two individuals who died following a wild elephant attack in the Vazhachal region near Athirappilly have come out.

According to the preliminary postmortem findings, Ambika (30), whose body was recovered from the Chalakudy river on Tuesday morning, died by drowning. Authorities suspect she may have slipped into the river while fleeing from the elephant.

Meanwhile, her companion, Satheesh (34), succumbed to internal injuries after being trampled by the elephant. His lungs were punctured by broken ribs, resulting in fatal internal bleeding. His body was found on a rock deep inside the forest.

The victims, both from the Kadar tribal colony near Athirappilly and Vazhachal region, had set up a temporary shed while collecting forest produce with two others. As a wild elephant approached, the group panicked and scattered. Only two of them managed to survive.

The deceased were found during a search operation early Tuesday after failing to return the previous night. Ambika's body was later handed over to her family, while the Kerala government has announced Rs10 lakh in financial assistance to the families of both victims, with an initial instalment of Rs5 lakh being released immediately.

This tragedy follows the death of another youth, Sebastian (20), from Adichilthotti, who was killed in a similar wild elephant attack in Athirappilly on Sunday night while collecting honey from the forest.

In response to the escalating wildlife-human conflict, residents of Athirappilly have called for a public hartal on Wednesday.