Elephant attack in Indore kills auto‑rickshaw driver

On July 25‑26, 2026, an auto‑rickshaw driver in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, tried to feed jaggery to an elephant that had been taken through the city after a religious procession. The elephant became aggressive, lifted the driver with its trunk, threw him to the ground and trampled him. The 49‑year‑old driver, identified as Vijay Holkar (also reported as Vijay Rao Holkar), died while receiving treatment at a hospital.

CCTV footage of the incident circulated on social media, prompting public shock. Police have detained the mahout, Umesh Goswami, and opened a negligence case under the Indian Penal Code. The investigation is examining whether safety protocols were followed when the elephant was brought into the public area.