Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A 49-year-old auto-rickshaw driver died after an elephant attacked him while he was feeding it jaggery during a religious procession in Indore's Raj Nagar area on Saturday evening.

The deceased, Vijay alias Laxman Rao Holkar, a resident of E-Sector, Raj Nagar, near the Raj Nagar Police Outpost, sustained critical injuries in the attack and died during treatment late on Saturday night.

According to police, the incident occurred around 4.30 pm under the Chandan Nagar police station limits. Members of the Jain community had brought the elephant from Ujjain to Indore for a religious programme.

The elephant, accompanied by its mahout, was being taken through Raj Nagar to seek donations when Vijay approached the animal and began feeding it jaggery. The elephant suddenly turned aggressive, wrapped its trunk around him, lifted him, threw him to the ground and then stepped on his chest.

People at the spot rushed to his rescue and informed his family. Vijay was initially taken to the district hospital, from where he was referred to MY Hospital because of the severity of his injuries. His family later shifted him to a private hospital, where he died during treatment.

Police said Vijay is survived by his wife and a son. His brother and other relatives also live nearby.

Chandan Nagar police have registered a case and launched an investigation. The mahout has been detained for questioning to ascertain the circumstances that led to the attack.

Police are also examining whether adequate safety measures were in place while the elephant was being taken through the residential area.