A British man has been killed by a wild elephant while on safari in southern India, according to police there.
The tourist, who has not been named, was killed by an
elephant he had been trying to photograph while on a jungle tour in the
state of Tamil Nadu, officers told the BBC.
The Foreign Office said it was "aware of the tragic death of a British national in southern India".
It added it was "providing consular assistance at this difficult time".
Taking photos
Tamil Nadu police said the man and two local guides had
entered a sectioned-off area of the jungle illegally, the BBC's Delhi
correspondent Natalia Antelav reported.
Officers said the lone animal had charged the men and hit the
British man on the head with its trunk. The guides - who managed to
escape the elephant - would be arrested, the police added.
Our correspondent said the area - which lies on the border
between the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu - is popular among
tourists and home to large wildlife reserves.
Such incidents are rare, but resorts operating in the area
are often criticised for disturbing animals and driving tourists to
parts of the jungle that are not designated for safari tours, she said.
Meanwhile, the Times of India reported that police had not
yet inspected the area of the Masinagudi National Park where the man,
who is thought to have been 67-years-old, was killed.
He is believed to have arrived in India from London.
He was treated at the local Masinagudi Hospital before being
moved to Gudalur Government Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead -
The Times said.
