A 35-year-old man was killed in a wild elephant attack after reportedly attempting to take a selfie with the animal in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

The victim, identified as Dhanraj Punjiram Madavi, a resident of Mendha village, was cycling along the Chandala–Mendha Road on July 8 when he noticed a crowd watching and filming a lone elephant in the nearby forest. According to reports, he moved closer to take a selfie with the elephant, which suddenly charged at the gathering. While others managed to flee, Madavi was trampled to death.

Forest and police officials reached the spot, conducted a panchnama, and launched further proceedings. The incident has heightened fear among residents in the area.

Officials said the elephant had strayed from a herd of around 30 elephants that has been roaming the Gurwala, Vihirgaon and Chandala areas for the past several days. The Forest Department has urged people not to approach wild elephants, gather around them, make loud noises or provoke them, warning that such behaviour can lead to fatal encounters.

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