Kodagu, Karnataka | August 17, 2026

A 34-year-old estate worker was trampled to death by a wild elephant at a private estate in Ghattadalla, Karadigodu village, under Siddapura limits in Kodagu district on Monday morning, triggering protests over the growing number of elephant attacks in the region.

The victim, identified as Gopal Baluri, a worker from West Bengal, was reportedly chased and trampled by the tusker while working inside the estate. Another worker, Jadavi Baluri, 33, narrowly escaped but suffered serious injuries. He is undergoing treatment at the District Hospital in Madikeri.

Eight deaths this year

The latest incident has intensified concerns over human-elephant conflict in Kodagu. According to official data cited by the report, eight people have died in elephant attacks in the district this year.

The death sparked protests across Kodagu, with residents and labour organisations demanding urgent measures to protect people working and living in elephant-prone areas.

Labour union representatives also criticised estate owners and authorities, arguing that workers need better protection from wildlife encounters. Protesters warned of a district-wide bandh if officials fail to convene a meeting to address the escalating conflict.

Calls for a permanent solution

The incident has also raised wider concerns among farmers and rural communities. The BJP Raitha Morcha’s Kodagu unit called on the Karnataka government to develop a long-term solution to human-wildlife conflict.

The organisation said repeated elephant attacks, along with crop destruction and livestock losses caused by other wildlife, are placing increasing pressure on rural communities. It also called for a simpler and faster compensation mechanism for affected families and farmers.

The latest death underscores the difficult challenge facing Kodagu, where elephants move through landscapes shared with plantations, farms and human settlements. Finding ways to protect both local communities and the region’s elephant population remains an urgent conservation priority.