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By a quirk of fate, a 40-year-old tribal man died of snake bite when he climbed atop a rock to escape from a wild elephant in a forest area in the district.
Three persons of Balakottai village in Anthiyur forest had gone into the jungle to collect firewood last evening when they were confronted by a wild elephant, police said.
As the elephant started chasing them, the trio took to their heels and on the way Madhan climbed a big rock while the others came to a plain area.
The two others informed fellow villagers about the incident and they launched a search but could not locate Madhan.
On being informed, forest and police officials this morning undertook a search and found Madhan dead on the rock with snake bite marks on his body.