Two pilgrims died at Sabarimala and another bike-borne pilgrim was crushed to death in an attack by a wild tusker near Plappally on the Plappally-Laha stretch of the Mannarakulanji-Chalakkayam main trunk road leading to Sabarimala on Wednesday.
A 16-year old pilgrim, Anish, native of Marthandom, who was pillion-riding a motorcycle, was crushed to death by a wild tusker, when their motorcycle was accidentally trapped before the lone tusker on the road passing through the forests around 11 a.m.
According to police, the lone tusker stood on the road blocking the vehicular traffic for some time and the two pilgrims accidentally reached in front of the pachyderm while trying to overtake the vehicles parked on the road.
Another pilgrim, Sreekumar, who was riding the motorbike managed to escape while the elephant attacked the pillion rider. The pachyderm retreated to the forests later, police said.
The body was taken to Pathanamthitta General Hospital for post-mortem, later.
Unidentified pilgrim
An unidentified pilgrim in his 40s was collapsed on the banks river Pampa in the afternoon. The body has been taken to Pathanamthitta General Hospital.
Another pilgrim, identified as Prakashbabu (45), died of cardiac arrest at the Cardiology Centre at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, earlier, in the forenoon.