T’puram: A father and his daughter had a narrow escape after a wild elephant charged at their two-wheeler and knocked them off on Kallar–Mottamoodu stretch of Ponmudi road on Saturday.Mahesh, a resident of Kallar Mottamoodu, and his daughter, were on their way to drop her at a tuition centre in Vithura when they encountered the elephant standing on the roadside around 7am. According to forest officials, the elephant suddenly charged at the vehicle, throwing both riders onto the side of the road.Authorities said the duo sustained only minor injuries in the incident. Locals and motorists who witnessed the attack rushed to their aid and shifted them to a safe location before informing the forest department.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
Officials said the elephant retreated into the forest soon after knocking down the two-wheeler and did not make any further attempt to attack the duo.Preliminary findings suggest the elephant became aggressive as it was accompanied by a calf. Officials said the animals had reportedly come to a nearby water source and were preparing to return to the forest when the two-wheeler approached.“It was a defensive reaction. The presence of a calf often makes female elephants highly protective and unpredictable. The victims escaped with only minor injuries because the elephant withdrew immediately after knocking down the bike,” a forest official said.The forest department has once again urged motorists travelling through Ponmudi forest stretch to exercise extreme caution, particularly during early morning and evening hours when wildlife movement is frequent.
