Student Killed in Elephant Attack Near Bettathur, Kodagu
- Kodagu Express Bureau
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Madikeri: A first-year Pre-University Course (PUC) student was killed in a tragic elephant attack near Bettathur village in Kodagu on Saturday evening(28 February 2026), triggering anger among local residents over recurring human-wildlife conflict in the area.
The deceased has been identified as Pooja, daughter of Girish, a resident of Bettathur. She was studying in First PUC at a private college in Madikeri. According to residents, Pooja returned from Madikeri by bus and alighted near her house at around 5.30 p.m. While she was walking a short distance towards her home, a wild elephant suddenly emerged and attacked her. She died on the spot due to the severity of the injuries.
Her body has been kept at the mortuary of the Government Hospital in Madikeri for post-mortem examination.
The incident has sparked outrage among villagers, who staged protests and expressed strong resentment against the Forest Department. Residents alleged that elephants frequently roam in and around Bettathur and neighbouring areas, posing a constant threat to people, especially school and college students returning home in the evenings.
Villagers accused the Forest Department of failing to take effective preventive measures despite repeated complaints about elephant movement in the area. They said the latest tragedy once again highlights the department’s inability to prevent elephant attacks and demanded immediate steps to ensure the safety of residents.
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