Elephant kills 60-year-old man on morning walk, 100 forest staff deployed

A 60-year-old man was killed in an elephant attack in Karnataka's Bengaluru while he was out for a morning walk, after the animal moved nearly 5 km outside the forest area.

Following the incident, Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy visited Rajarajeshwari Hospital and consoled the family of the deceased, Nagaraj. The minister announced Rs 20 lakh compensation for the family and said the amount was being provided as a humanitarian measure and in accordance with government norms.

The Forest Department has launched a special operation to locate and capture the lone elephant, with around 100 personnel, three special teams and trained elephants from the Dubare camp being deployed for the operation.ELEPHANT MOVES OUT OF FOREST AREA

Ramalinga Reddy said elephants have been moving through the area since the construction of a new road.

Following the attack, the Forest Department has stepped up efforts to track the elephant and prevent further movement beyond the Bannerghatta forest division.SPECIAL OPERATION LAUNCHED TO CAPTURE ELEPHANT

A special operation has been launched to locate and capture the lone elephant.

Special teams from Ramanagara, Bannerghatta and Bengaluru have been deployed to monitor its movement. Drone surveillance will also be used as part of the operation.

Around 100 forest personnel have been deployed, while four trained elephants from the Dubare camp will be brought in to assist with the capture operation.

DCF Chakrapani said the elephant had been traced to the BM Kaval area. Three special teams will conduct combing operations to locate and capture it.

Authorities have advised people not to venture out in the area for now.

The Forest Department said measures would also be taken to prevent elephants from moving beyond the Bannerghatta forest division.- Ends