Overview

• Kalyani, identified by officials as a resident of Kambikkayam in Edavanna, was fatally attacked Thursday morning while an elephant herd was being driven back toward the forest.
• The Hindu reports the animal had been hit with a rubber bullet by forest staff and, running in panic within the Kodumbuzha forest station area, struck and trampled her.
• Officials said she had gone out to look for her grandchildren who were playing nearby when the encounter occurred.
• Her body was taken to Manjeri Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem and later released to the family, as residents gathered to protest what they called the Forest Department’s failure.
• Kerala government data cited in reports lists 18 deaths from elephant attacks this year and more than 200 since 2016, underscoring a broader pattern of human–wildlife conflict.