Student trampled by elephant

A COLLEGE student was trampled to death by an elephant while he was trying to take a selfie with a herd that was passing through the Mohammadi forests in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, India.

According to reports this week, Pranjal Kumar had gone to see the elephants with his two friends, Ankit and Gaurav.

He apparently went too close to the herd while taking the selfie and an elephant attacked him.

Kumar was seriously injured. He was taken to hospital where he died.

The herd had about two dozen elephants, including two calves.

Wildlife experts said that the elephant probably thought that the victim was approaching the calves.

Gaurav said: “We stayed back but Pranjal went too close and suddenly an elephant came out from nowhere and wrapped him in his trunk, slammed him to the ground and trampled him. We were scared and ran away from the spot.”

Range officer Mobin Arif said: “We have been advising the locals to stay away from the wild elephants but a group of three youths moved too close to the herd and one of them was killed. The elephant herd is continuously moving to and fro between Dudhwa Reserve forests and the social forestry area in Mohammadi.” |