A mahout Mahendra Singh died reportedly after falling from an elephant in Birsa zoological park in Ranchi on Sunday sending shock waves among the officials and staffs of the centre.

Dr Ajay Kumar of the zoo informed that like any other day Singh arrived at the zoo at around 8 am and started shifting the elephant named ‘Ramu’ in order to clean up the area. Singh who was sitting on the elephant suddenly fell down and started crying for help.

The other staffs, however, fled away from the spot fearing that the elephant may have become violent.

The senior officials visited the spot after receiving information recovered Singh’s body.

The management stated that there was no eye witness to narrate the circumstances leading to the death.

It stated that reason for the death could be ascertained only after autopsy saying that there was no external injury mark on the body.

The management said the body would have been crushed had the elephant trampled the victim.

Reports, however, indicated that the elephant was angered by presence of two persons near him adding that the Mahout fell when the tusker tried to chase them.

Dr Kumar said that at present it seems that Singh either died after sustaining internal injury due to a fall from 10 feet high elephant or he might have suffered a heart attack. He said elephant was calm after the incident and moved around when signaled. He was also taking normal food including bananas and sugarcane.

Meanwhile family of the mahout was awaiting the arrival of Singh’s son before giving permission for carrying out the autopsy of the body.

 It may be stated here that deceased was working in the Birsa zoo since 1992 and was considered expert in handling the elephants.