According to reports, Sandhya had ventured into the coffee estate along with two others.
Forest Department personnel captured an elephant at Chenneyyanakote, Badaga Banangala, in Kodagu district, following the death of a coffee planter in an attack by a wild elephant in March 2026. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The wife of a senior IPS officer was killed in a wild elephant attack in a coffee estate in Konanakatte village near Thithimathi in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district, in Karnataka, on June 5.
The deceased Sandhya Achaya (51) is the wife of A. Sunil Achaya, a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Nagaland cadre.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the district, where recurring human-elephant conflict has claimed several lives in recent years. Residents of elephant conflict-prone areas have repeatedly urged the government of Karnataka to implement long-term measures to address the growing menace.
A senior forest officer from Nagarahole Tiger Reserve confirmed the elephant attack.
According to reports, Sandhya had ventured into the coffee estate along with two others. During the visit, a wild elephant suddenly emerged and charged at the group. While the others managed to escape to safety, Sandhya was reportedly attacked by the animal. She sustained grievous injuries, and succumbed while being rushed to a hospital.
The tragedy marks another fatality linked to elephant encounters in Kodagu.
In May, a tourist lost her life at Dubare Elephant Camp near Kushalnagar after being caught in a tussle between two captive elephants. The incident resulted in the closure of elephant camps for tourists as a safety measure until an SOP for visitor safety is framed.
The latest incident at Thithimathi has once again highlighted the issue of human-elephant conflict. Increasing encounters between people and wild elephants continue to pose a serious challenge for forest authorities and local communities across Kodagu, even as the government of Karnataka has assured elected representatives from the district that it will work towards finding a permanent solution to the problem.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 05th, 2026
