Tusker injures cop on Wayanad forest road, wrecks bike

Pulppalli: A biker had a narrow escape after being attacked by a tusker while travelling from Chekadi to Panamaram on Tuesday morning. The injured person has been identified as K H Hareesh, a native of Chekadi and a Civil Police Officer at the Kambalakkad Police Station.

According to Hareesh, he spotted the elephant in front of him at a curve. Though he tried to take a U-turn, the animal charged at him. Leaving his bike behind, Hareesh ran for his life and took shelter in a roadside culvert, suffering a shoulder dislocation in the process.

Unable to reach him, the enraged tusker turned its fury on the bike, leaving it badly damaged.

“I lost my balance when I saw the elephant racing towards me,” Hareesh said. “I had to jump down and run for safety while it attacked the bike.”

The Pakkam–Chekadi–Kuruva road, which winds through about five kilometres of dense forest, offers scenic views but is notorious for elephant herds and lone tuskers crossing the path. A few weeks ago, a tourist car was also attacked by a tusker on the same route, causing heavy damage to the vehicle.