In Bengaluru, a tragic incident occurred on Monday morning when a 60-year-old man was killed by a wild elephant during his routine morning walk. This event has since gained significant attention online, particularly due to CCTV footage that captures another jogger narrowly avoiding the elephant moments before the attack.
The unfortunate event transpired around 5:30 AM near Anchepalya, located behind Rajarajeshwari Hospital on Mysuru Road. The victim, identified as Nagaraj, was a daily wage laborer who encountered the elephant while walking.
According to eyewitnesses, the elephant lifted Nagaraj with its trunk, threw him to the ground, and subsequently stepped on him before wandering off. Local residents quickly transported him to Rajarajeshwari Hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
Reports indicate that the elephant had wandered approximately 5 kilometers from its natural habitat into a densely populated area. Residents also reported that the animal caused damage to two nearby compound walls.
The viral CCTV footage from the area shows a jogger who narrowly escaped the elephant just moments before the attack on Nagaraj, highlighting the dangers posed by the animal’s presence in a populated region.
While encounters with elephants are not uncommon in more remote areas of South Bengaluru, forest officials noted that this was the first incident of such a conflict occurring so close to the city.
In response to the attack, the forest department initiated a special operation aimed at tracking and capturing the elephant. Following the incident, protests erupted at the hospital, with Nagaraj’s family and local community members criticizing the forest department for its lack of action and negligence. They demanded immediate accountability, compensation for the victim’s family, and called for a visit from Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy. The minister later visited the hospital, met with the grieving family, and provided compensation amounting to Rs 20 lakh.
Reddy commented on the situation, stating, “Elephants often move towards the BM Kaval area from Bannerghatta National Park. Their movements have increased in this vicinity following the construction of a new road. Our staff were in the area until 1 AM last night, and we did not anticipate the elephant entering a populated space.” He also noted that the forest department had been alerting the community about elephant movements and would enhance surveillance efforts moving forward.
The video of the incident has triggered numerous reactions on social media. One user lamented, “Sadly, human greed has taken away the natural habitat of so many animal species. Where will they go?” Another questioned the safety of the area at such an early hour, suggesting accountability for the municipality and the approval of nearby construction. A fourth user expressed condolences, stating, “May his soul rest in peace! The expansion of Bangalore has encroached upon lands that serve as habitats for these animals.”
