Coimbatore:  A 65-year-old brick kiln worker was trampled to death by a wild elephant near Kanuvai on the city outskirts in the early hours of today, police said. The worker was on his way to the kiln in Kanuvai when the elephant appeared suddenly from behind the bushes and trampled him to death, they added.  

Public and kiln workers informed police and forest department officials, who rushed to the place, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. Villagers told the officials that the elephant had been moving around in the area for the last six months and had reportedly killed three persons during the period and sought steps to prevent it from entering human habitats.

Meanwhile, a 75-year-old man was attacked by an elephant at Samayapuram near Mettupalayam, about 45 km from here. The man was crossing the road at around 6.30 AM, when the elephant attacked him, creating panic among the residents, police said. After being provided first aid at Mettupalayam government hospital, he was admitted to the government hospital here. PTI