Sullia: 17-year-old PU student killed in elephant attack; villagers protest negligence

Mangalore Today News Network

Sullia, Mar 2, 2026: A 17-year-old student was killed in a wild elephant attack at Bettattur village in Madikeri taluk, a border area, on February 28.

The deceased has been identified as Pooja (17), daughter of Girish from Bettattur village. She was a First PUC student at St. Joseph’s College in Madikeri. The incident occurred around 5:30 pm when Pooja had returned home by bus and was walking towards her house after getting down near her residence. A wild elephant reportedly attacked her at that time.

She sustained severe injuries and died on the spot. The body has been shifted to the government hospital in Madikeri and will undergo post-mortem examination.

Following the tragic incident, villagers have expressed strong anger against the Forest Department, alleging negligence. They claimed that several lives have been lost due to elephant attacks in the region and accused both the Forest Department and the government of failing to take adequate preventive measures.

Residents said they had repeatedly complained about the increasing movement of wild elephants in and around Bettattur and nearby areas, but no effective action was taken. The death of the innocent student has left the village in deep sorrow, with grieving locals demanding immediate measures to prevent further tragedies.