A wild elephant trampled a 49-year-old man and his 29-year-old son to death at Gudalur in the Nilgiris district on Sunday night.

The deceased were identified as A Prasanth and his father Anandraj of Kolapalli near Cherambadi in Gudalur. Anandraj was former panchayat union councillor in Kolapalli.

According to forest officials, Prasanth was on the way to his home around 6pm with his friends when they stumbled upon the elephant. Since it was dark, they noticed the animal only after getting very close to it. They started running helter-skelter, but Prashanth was attacked by the elephant. His friend informed Anandraj and forest officials. While villagers were scared to go to the spot fearing the elephant, Anandraj rushed to the place with a friend. As feared, the elephant was at the spot and fatally attacked Anandraj.

Forest and police officers visited the spot and retrieved the bodies.

This is the fourth elephant attack in Gudalur this month. The last one was reported on Friday, when a 60-year-old man was killed near Cherankod.

The elephant attacks have sparked fury among the residents, who urged the forest department to take steps to prevent elephant intrusion into tea gardens and residential areas. The traders in Pandalur have decided to down shutters for a day to press the demand.

Meanwhile, in Coimbatore district, a man survived an elephant attack in Sirumugai range with fractured bones.

Another man suffered severe injuries in a bear attack in Valparai. Forest officials said that Raju, 75, a native of Trichy residing at Seniyappa estate in Valparai, had stepped out of the house around 6am on Sunday when the bear attacked. Though he managed to escape, Raju suffered severe injuries. He is undergoing treatment at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.