KOTTAYAM: In a macabre incident, a mahout died after an elephant accidentally stepped on him. The dead has been identified as Arun Panicker. The incident happened at Karapuzha. In the midst of bathing the elephant identified as Bharat Viswanathan, the first mahout fell into the water. He slipped down and came under the elephant. His assistant came running and took Arun out after raising the elephant, but he was declared dead.