Mysore/Mysuru: A compensation cheque of Rs. 20 lakh was handed over to the family members of the man, who was trampled to death when he was attending nature’s call.

The incident took place in the wee hours of yesterday at Matakere ‘B’ Colony, coming under Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Saragur taluk in Mysuru district. The deceased was Mada alias Madappa (65), a resident of the Colony, who was working as a watchman of a temple. 

The compensation cheque was handed over yesterday by Bandipur Tiger Reserve Conservator of Forests (CF) S. Prabhakaran. He said that Rs, 4,000 will be paid for the wife of the deceased every month for five years and one member of the family will be provided a job on contract basis.

Torch proves deadly: Mada, who went to attend nature’s call, was carrying a torch as it was dark outside. When he was attending nature’s call on the roadside, he heard a noise and pointed the torchlight towards the sound resulting in the wild elephant rushing towards the light. The wild elephant then attacked Mada and trampled him to death. If Mada had thrown the torch in a different direction, the elephant may have rushed towards the torch giving time for Mada to escape.

Following the death of Mada, the villagers have demanded capture of the elephant and relocate it elsewhere to prevent such incidents in future.

CF Prabhakaran said that though railway barricades have been installed to prevent wild elephants from entering human habitats, it is to be identified from which spot wild elephants were entering and assured of taking steps to prevent such incidents from taking place in future.