The attack in Kerala injured her 11-year-old son and left her daughter unharmed.
CHINNAKKANAL, India — A 36-year-old mother was trampled to death by a wild elephant Monday while walking her two children to a school bus stop in Kerala, officials and local reports said.
Mari was walking with her son and daughter in Chinnakkanal village when she encountered an elephant and its calf during heavy rain and fog. Authorities said the poor visibility kept the family from seeing the animals before the adult elephant attacked.
The attack also seriously injured Mari’s 11-year-old son, who was taken to Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Her daughter escaped without physical injuries. A bystander who heard the family’s cries rushed Mari to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The Kerala Forest Department said it had issued alerts that morning about elephant movement in the Suryanelli area. Forest officials said the warnings were sent through WhatsApp before the fatal encounter. The attack has led to anger from Mari’s relatives and local residents, who demanded stronger safety measures and government help for her children.
Mari’s brother said she had no husband and was raising the children alone. He said the family would not allow her body to be released for a post-mortem examination until officials made a decision about support for the children. “Who will take care of those children now?” he said.
Forest Minister Shibu Baby John said officials would review a department proposal on assistance for the family. He said the government needed to ensure the children received proper care. Local forest officials also said a rapid response team would remain in the area from evening until 10 a.m. to monitor wild animal movement and push elephants away from homes.
Devikulam Range Officer Arun Kumar said 17 elephants were moving in separate herds in the area. He said officials would strengthen alerts and monitoring in Chinnakkanal after the attack. The incident has renewed concern in the region over human encounters with wild elephants near homes, roads and school routes.
The case remained under review Wednesday as forest officials prepared additional steps for safety and family support. Mari’s son continued receiving medical care, and officials had not released further details on his condition.