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Weather
Elephant Tusker Pallatt Brahmadathan Killed by Lightning Near Erattupetta, Kottayam
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 05 Oct 2026, 01:32 AM
👁 15
A tusked elephant named Pallatt Brahmadathan died after being struck by lightning near Erattupetta in Kerala's Kottayam district, officials said.
The elephant known as Pallatt Brahmadathan was fatally hit by a lightning strike while roaming near Erattupetta, a town in Kottayam district of Kerala. Local authorities confirmed the animal's death after the incident, noting that the strike occurred during a period of intense thunderstorms typical of the region's monsoon season.
Witnesses reported a bright flash followed by a loud crack, after which the elephant collapsed and could not be revived. Veterinary officials who arrived at the scene pronounced the animal dead on site.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of wildlife to extreme weather events, prompting calls for better monitoring and safety measures in forested and temple areas where such animals are commonly found.
No further injuries were reported, and the authorities are conducting a routine investigation to document the circumstances surrounding the lightning strike.
Witnesses reported a bright flash followed by a loud crack, after which the elephant collapsed and could not be revived. Veterinary officials who arrived at the scene pronounced the animal dead on site.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of wildlife to extreme weather events, prompting calls for better monitoring and safety measures in forested and temple areas where such animals are commonly found.
No further injuries were reported, and the authorities are conducting a routine investigation to document the circumstances surrounding the lightning strike.