51-year-old woman was killed in a wild elephant attack at a coffee plantation in Konanakatte village near Thithimathi recently, triggering widespread outrage among local residents over the growing menace of wild elephants in the region.
The deceased has been identified as Sandhya (51), wife of senior IPS officer Annalamada Sunil Achaiah, an Inspector General of Police (IGP) serving in the Nagaland cadre and currently posted in Delhi.
According to reports, Sandhya was visiting a coffee plantation at Konanakatte when she was suddenly attacked by a wild elephant that had strayed into the estate. She sustained grievous injuries in the attack and was rushed to Gonikoppa Hospital. However, she succumbed to her injuries on the way to the hospital. Several plantation workers who were present at the spot managed to flee and escape unharmed when the elephant charged. Forest Department officials later visited the location and initiated an inquiry into the incident.
Sandhya was residing in Sultan Palya, Bengaluru, along with her two daughters, while her husband was serving on official duty in Delhi.
Eyewitnesses said the elephant was encountered while Sandhya and the workers were proceeding towards the plantation. While the workers managed to escape, Sandhya was caught in the attack and sustained fatal injuries. Doctors who examined her later declared her dead.
News of the tragedy sparked strong public reaction in the area. Residents and villagers gathered in large numbers outside the hospital and expressed their anger against the Forest Department, accusing it of failing to take effective measures to address the persistent elephant menace.
Protesters alleged that wild elephants have been regularly entering plantations and human settlements in the region, posing a serious threat to life and property.
They claimed that despite repeated incidents, the Forest Department has largely limited its response to providing compensation after fatalities rather than implementing preventive measures.
The agitated residents demanded immediate action to capture the elephant involved in the attack and to strengthen mitigation measures in vulnerable areas. They called for the installation of solar-powered fencing, railway barricades and elephant-proof trenches along forest fringes to prevent elephants from entering agricultural lands and residential areas.
They further urged authorities to identify and relocate habitual conflict-causing elephants in order to safeguard human lives and reduce recurring incidents of man-elephant conflict.
