Auto driver dies after deer hits vehicle at Kothamangalam

Three passengers injured in incident; vehicle reportedly turned turtle after colliding with a sambar deer that sped across the path at Kadapara along the Punnekkad-Thattekkad Road

An autorickshaw driver met with a tragic end and three passengers were injured after the vehicle reportedly turned turtle after colliding with a sambar deer that sped across the path at Kadapara along the PunnekkadThattekkad Road within the Keerampara panchayat limits at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam around 10 p.m. on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Vigil P.N., 41, of Elamblassery in Mamalakandam ward of Kuttampuzha panchayat, some 15 km from Kothamangalam town. He was taking a person from his neighbourhood who had sustained a wound on his hand to a hospital in Kothamangalam town.

Reportedly, the deer arrowed across the autorickshaw from the left side of the road and collided with the vehicle. In the impact, the victim lost control of the vehicle which then turned upside down. While the three passengers escaped with minor injuries, Vigil got stuck under the vehicle, leaving him with serious injuries.

He was eased out from underneath the autorickshaw by the passengers and Forest department employees.

He was initially rushed to Dharmagiri St. Joseph’s Hospital at Kothamangalam from where he was referred to Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva. “He was brought here around 11 p.m. Since the autorickshaw had fallen on him, he had broken ribs and internal haemorrhage. Polytrauma has been cited as the cause of death,” said hospital sources.

He was found to have suffered injuries to his head, chest and abdomen. Vigil eventually succumbed to his injuries around 2 a.m. The deceased is survived by his wife, two children and mother.

Humananimal conflicts

Yet another life being lost to the worsening humananimal conflict created some tension initially be

fore the authorities concerned intervened to calm things down. “The stretch where the tragedy took place is prone to frequent elephant invasion,” said Siby K.A., chairman, development standing committee, Kuttampuzha panchayat.

The tragedy comes exactly a week after Kothamangalam town witnessed acrimonious protests by the Congress over the surg

ing casualties on account of humananimal conflict along the high ranges across the State.

The protesters had staged a sitin in Kothamangalam town with the body of a woman who was trampled to death by an elephant Kanjiraveli in Adimaly.

The police had to lathicharge the protesters to recover the body after more than two hours.