The body of Conservator of Forests and Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve S. Manikandan, 45, who was killed by a wild elephant in the reserve forests in Mysuru, was cremated with full police honours including a 21-gun salute in his home town Cumbum on Sunday.

Theni Collector M. Pallavi Baldev and District Revenue Officer (DRO) S. Kandasamy laid a wreath on the body of the senior IFS officer and paid tribute. The Collector also expressed her condolences to his family members.

Later, the DRO handed over a condolence letter from Chief Minister Edappadi S. Palaniswamy to M. Sangeetha, wife of Manikandan. In his letter, the Chief Minister said that he was shocked to hear about the death of Manikandan and expressed his deep condolences to the family members.

In the funeral held in the evening, several IFS officers including Manikandan’s batch mates in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka participated along with local residents and relatives, and bid him a tearful adieu. Forest officials in Theni district were also present.

According to forest officials, Manikandan was attacked in the D.B. Kuppe forest range near Kabini backwaters in Mysuru district while he was assessing the damage caused by forest fire. The grievously injured Conservator of Forests was rushed to a hospital. But he succumbed to his injuries, they added.

A 2001 batch IFS officer, Manikandan is survived by his wife, son and daughter.