Wild elephant attack in Idukki kills cardamom plantation worker

A wild tusker roaming near Munnar Mount Carmel Basilica near Munnar hill station in Idukki on Wednesday evening. photo Special Arrangement A 62-year-old cardamom plantation worker was killed in a wild elephant attack at 12 Acre in Thalakkulam Estate near Chinnakkanal, under the Devikulam Forest Range near Munnar, on Thursday morning (August 27, 2026).​The deceased has been identified as Ocha Thevar, a resident of Bodinayakanur in Tamil Nadu. According to the police, Thevar was working on the plantation when the elephant attacked him. Though he was rushed to a nearby hospital with severe injuries, doctors could not save him. His body will be shifted to the Idukki Government Medical College for a post-mortem examination.​In a separate incident on Wednesday evening, a man narrowly escaped a wild elephant attack in Munnar town. The man was sitting in front of the Mount Carmel Basilica when an elephant entered the area; he managed to flee unharmed. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) from Pettimudy arrived at the spot and chased the animal away.​Earlier on June 8, a 36-year-old woman named Mari was trampled to death by a wild elephant and her 11-year-old son was injured at Chinnakkanal, under the Devikulam range.​According to a recent study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Munnar landscape has recorded the highest number of human casualties from wild elephant attacks in Kerala, with 103 fatalities. Published - August 27, 2026 01:41 pm IST