In a tragic incident, C. Gopakumar, a veterinary surgeon who heads the elephant squad of the Animal Husbandry Department, was trampled to death by a captive elephant in musth while he was trying to tranquilize it at Vaipur, near Mallappally, on Sunday.
Dr. Gopakumar, 47, reached Vaipur after he was informed by the Revenue Divisional Officer on the scary situation created by the elephant, Gangadharan, in the possession of Reghu of Chandrappallill.
Dr. Gopakumar fired a tranquilizer shot at the elephant and was waiting a few metres away for tethering it with the help of mahouts. But, the situation took a tragic turn when the pachyderm turned violent after the public who gathered there threw stones at it.
Dr. Gopakumar also took to his heels from the fast approaching pachyderm. By accident, he fell down and the elephant fatally attacked him. The injured veterinary officer was rushed to the Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital where he breathed his last in a few seconds, according to hospital sources.
