A cameraman working for a leading Malayalam news channel was killed in a wild elephant attack while on assignment in Palakkad district of Kerala on Wednesday. A V Mukesh, 34, employed with Mathrubhumi News, sustained serious injuries during the elephant attack while capturing footage of a stray elephant herd’s movement, according to channel sources, reports PTI.
Mukesh is survived by his wife.
The tragic incident occurred as Mukesh was filming the elephants crossing a river between Malambuzha and Kanjikode, an area known for frequent wild elephant sightings, according to locals.
While the reporter and the vehicle’s driver managed to flee to safety, Mukesh was attacked and suffered severe injuries. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Mukesh succumbed to his injuries, sources added.
Hailing from Parappanangadi in Malappuram district, Mukesh had worked at the Palakkad bureau of Mathrubhumi News for the past year. He had previously been part of the channel’s New Delhi bureau for several years.
Mukesh also showcased his reporting skills through over 100 articles published in Mathrubhumi online under the column “Athijeevanam,” which depicted the lives of marginalized individuals. Colleagues recalled that Mukesh’s articles drew attention to the plight of the underprivileged and marginalized communities.
They also noted that Mukesh often provided financial aid to individuals mentioned in his column, using funds from his own salary.
Following the tragic incident, condolences poured in from various quarters, including Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan, and several ministers.