Coimbatore: In the first jumbo strike this year, A 65-year-old farmer was gored and trampled to death by a wild tusker at Theethipalayam on Monday night. Last year, at least 12 people in Coimbatore were killed in jumbo attacks. Forest department staff said that the farmer, P Ramasamy from Ayyasamy Kovil street, was repairing the bore well along with a few others in his farm, when a trumpeting elephant from the forest cover came charging at them.

"On seeing the elephant, all the farmers took to their heels and managed to escape. But unfortunately, Ramasamy, who couldn't run fast due to his old age, slipped and fell to the ground. The pachyderm gored his stomach with its tusk and trampled him to death. It then retreated into the forest," said a forest department staff.

The incident took place a short distance away from the house of Ramasamy, around 10 pm on Monday. The farmers said that the wild elephant had ventured into the farms to raid the maize crops cultivated by Ramasamy. As elephants frequent the farms in the area, the forest department has warned the villagers not to venture out at night.