Wildlife Attack At Wayanad Kills Man: Rahul Gandhi Mourns Over Tragic Death

Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his condolences to Panachiyil Aji, a 47-year-old man from Mananthavady, killed by a wild elephant in Wayanad, Kerala on Saturday.

The elephant ventured into the residential area, smashing the gates open. Aji was attacked by the wild tusker in front of a friend”s house, dying on the spot.

In his tweet, Gandhi offered his sympathy to the victim”s family. He also stated the increasing number of elephant attacks has severely impacted the citizens in Wayanad, endangering their lives. The Congress leader also said that the party had made multiple demands to prevent such attacks to protect the farmers. “However, the lack of a comprehensive action plan has only aggravated the conflict,” he wrote.

Gandhi has called for both central and state governments to take actions to protect both the citizens and the wildlife of the region to prevent more attacks.

I am shocked by the untimely demise of Panachiyil Aji from Payyampally, Mananthavady who succumbed to a fatal attack by an elephant.

Another life has been tragically lost in Wayanad due to a wildlife attack. He was the sole breadwinner of his family and the primary caregiver to…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 10, 2024

According to the Kerala Forest Department, the elephant was radio-collared when released by the Karnataka Forest Department at Moolahalla close to the Kerala border. The elephant was under the observation of the Kerala Forest Department personnel in the Pathiri South region for the past three days.

Massive protests have erupted in the region. Protestors allege that authorities had failed to ensure security preventing elephants from entering residential areas. They also alleged that the drone used for monitoring animal movement was not functioning. They also accused the District Collector and the DFO of allegedly arriving at the spot several hours after the incident.

The authorities have claimed that efforts to capture the elephant are ongoing.