Watchman of pvt company killed by elephant

A watchman in a private company at Kanuvai on the outskirts of the city was killed by an elephant early this morning, police said.

The 56-year-old man was on his rounds when the elephant suddenly appeared from the nearby jungle and blocked his path, police said.

The watchman tried to escape, but the pachyderm lifted him with its trunk, flung him to the ground and went back to the forest, they said.

Neighbours and co-workers launched a search for the watchman when he did not return and found him lying in a pool of blood and immediately rushed him to the government hospital here, they said, adding that he succumbed to injuries.