Athirappilly, Kerala: A 62-year-old man was killed in a wild elephant attack here in the early hours of Saturday while attempting to drive the animal away from his residential premises.

The deceased has been identified as Mohanan (62), a resident of Vettilappara.

The incident happened at around 3 am when Mohanan and his younger brother, Ratheesh, tried to chase away a wild elephant that had entered the vicinity of their home. The two men reportedly used flaming torches in an attempt to scare off the animal when it suddenly turned aggressive and attacked them.

Mohanan was trampled by the elephant during the attack. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.

Residents said incidents of wild elephant intrusion have become increasingly frequent in the region over the past several days, causing widespread concern among local communities.

Locals recalled that Mohanan was often among the first to respond whenever wild elephants entered nearby farmlands and residential areas. He was known for helping villagers drive the animals back into the forest whenever assistance was needed.

He is survived by his wife, Girija, son Adarsh, and daughter Greeshma.