Farmer Tragically Trampled to Death by Wild Elephant in Andhra Pradesh

A tragic incident has occurred in Andhra Pradesh, where a 69-year-old farmer was fatally attacked by a wild elephant. The incident took place during the early hours of Friday at Vallivedu village, located in the Pakala mandal of Tirupati district. This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in rural agricultural zones.

The victim, identified as B. Thimma Reddy from Devineni Indlu village, had ventured to his agricultural field alone late Thursday night to harvest his paddy crop. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Friday, he encountered a wild elephant in the darkness, leaving him no opportunity to escape. It was not until Friday evening that his family, who reside in Tirupati, became concerned when he failed to respond to repeated phone calls. Neighbors subsequently conducted a search of the fields, where they discovered his body at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Investigation and Official Response to the Tragedy

Following the discovery, local authorities, including officials from the Tirupati Forest Department, the forest range officer from Panapakam, and officers from the Pakala Police, arrived at the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. The victim's remains were transported to the SVRR Government Hospital in Tirupati to undergo a post-mortem examination. B. Thimma Reddy leaves behind his wife, Manemma, and two sons.

In response to the loss of life, the forest department has initiated the process to provide an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the grieving family, in accordance with state guidelines established in July 2024. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed his deep condolences regarding the incident. After reviewing the case with forest officials, he described the event as deeply distressing, noting that the administration has been actively monitoring elephant movements and issuing regular alerts to villagers in the region.

The authorities have reiterated their commitment to public safety and are urging residents to exercise extreme caution. An elephant task force is continuously tracking animal movements in the area and disseminating warnings to local communities. Forest officials have issued a stern advisory, strictly warning members of the public against venturing into agricultural fields alone during the night hours in zones where wild elephant presence has been reported.

This incident underscores the vital necessity for heightened vigilance and improved safety measures in regions frequently visited by wildlife. Local administration continues to provide all necessary support to the affected family while working to mitigate future risks of human-wildlife encounters.