Man Trampled to Death by Rampaging Wild Elephant Outside His Home

A farmer in southern India was killed in a terrifying late-night elephant attack after stepping outside his home to confront the wild animal, according to local reports.

The deadly encounter happened around 2:45 a.m. on Friday, May 29, in Kerala, India. The victim was identified by local outlets as Pullerkatt Mohanan, a farmer believed to be in his 60s.

Residents said Mohanan heard the elephant moving around outside his home and went into the courtyard to investigate. The animal had reportedly entered his farm the day before and damaged his crops, leaving the local farmer worried it had returned.

But the situation quickly turned deadly.

According to K. Satheesh Kumar, president of the local village council, the elephant charged at Mohanan and trampled him, leaving him with fatal injuries.

Mohanan was rushed to a local hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

The horrifying death has shaken the area and sparked outrage among villagers, who say the attack is just the latest in a string of dangerous encounters between wild elephants and residents.

Locals claim the elephant involved in the fatal incident had already been causing damage in the community before the deadly confrontation. Frustrated residents organized a road blockade on Saturday, May 30, demanding stronger action from officials.

The protests ended only after officials reportedly promised to step in.

Kumar said the Minister for Forests & Wildlife Protection assured residents he would visit the area on Monday and hold a meeting to discuss the growing crisis.

The area’s chief forest conservator also reportedly promised that the elephant responsible for the attack would be relocated.

“We ended the road blockade after receiving the assurance,” Kumar said, according to The New Indian Express. “If the government fails to find a permanent solution, the residents of Athirappilly will be forced to intensify the protest.”

The deadly attack has put a spotlight on the ongoing conflict between humans and wild elephants in parts of India, where expanding communities, farms, and elephant habitats increasingly collide.

For Mohanan’s neighbors, the issue is no longer a distant wildlife problem. It is a life-or-death threat right outside their doors.

The Kerala Forests & Wildlife Protection department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.