KALPETTA: Wayanad Collector Adeela Abdulla on Sunday ordered the closure of a private resort at Elambilery near Meppadi where a tourist was trampled to death by a wild elephant on Saturday night. The Rain Forest resort at Elambilery was closed after it was discovered that it had been functioning without any licenses. On Saturday night, Shahana (26), a tourist, was trampled to death by a wild elephant in the resort.

Shahana, a college lecturer hailing from Kannur, had come to the resort with two family members and they were staying in a makeshift tent when the animal attacked. The resort is located on the forest fringe and the area is frequented by wild elephants. Upon hearing the trumpeting sound of a wild elephant, the victim and two others came out of their tent and were attacked, police said. While two others managed to run away to safety, the woman was killed. Though the woman was rushed to a hospital, her life could not be saved.

According to the post-mortem report, her internal organs got severely damaged after getting trampled by the elephant. There are about 50 small and large injuries on the body. Police have completed the inquest proceedings. After the post mortem, the body was taken to Kannur.

As many as 30 families had reached the resort for the weekend package in the tents that were illegally put up within the resort. Many of these tents were put up close to the forest area.

After visiting the resort, Collector Adeela said that she had directed the Meppady grama panchayat officials to close the resort as it was functioning without any license. She also said that the resort owners did not maintain any safety standards in the tents that were put up in the resort. The Collector has also sought a detailed report from the tahsildar.