Tamil Nadu   

Wild elephant tramples two persons to death

– PHOTO: N. BASHKARAN

TRAPPED: A wild elephant, which fell into an irrigation well at Muthampatti, near Rayakottai, climbing up from a trench on Saturday.

Krishnagiri: An infuriated wild elephant trampled two persons to death, when a group of people, who gathered to watch the rescue of another pachyderm that fell into an irrigation well at Muthampatti near Rayakottai, pelted stones at it. The deceased were identified as Gundappa (55) of Kollepatti and Krishnappa (28) of Muthampatti. According to forest sources, two male elephants strayed from Udayadur Reserve Forests in the Rayakottai Forest Range into Muthampatti on Friday night in search of food and water.

The elephants started to raid the crops when one of the pachyderms accidentally fell into a 20-foot narrow irrigation well. On receiving information that the elephant had fallen into the well Conservator of Forests, Dharmapuri Circle P.A. Mani deputed a special team comprising of Forest and Police officials on Saturday. Forest officials brought in a crane to rescue the animal. With no proper steps to climb down the well officials dug a parallel trench near the irrigation well to enable the pachyderm come out on its own. Around 3 p.m. the elephant climbed up the trench. Meanwhile, a group of people, who gathered at the area to get a glimpse of the elephant, started to pelt stones at the second elephant and burst firecrackers.

The furious elephant went on a rampage trampling two persons to death. Senior forest and police officials had a tough time in controlling the pachyderm, which ran amuck and lodged itself in a coconut grove nearby. Concerned over the damage caused by the elephants to crops farmers have blamed the Forest Department for failing to take any action in chasing the elephants back into the forests.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Free eye camps
Stress on diversity in education
Panel to meet quarry workers
Mass contact programme
Intensify research on nanotechnology, says VC
Man rescued within 24 hours of abduction by Salem gang
Huts destroyed in fire
Training in mosquito control measures
SHGs’ total savings touch Rs. 37.43 cr.
Getting ready
Bank ties up with ATM network
Celebrating the quintessential woman
Wild elephant tramples two persons to death
Nature’s gift
Government committed to protecting textile sector
Final notification on colour code for school buses to be ready soon
Russia wants to diversify trade ties with India
State Government for more universities with autonomy
Karunanidhi seeks protection for fishermen
Government floats tenders
LIC Thanjavur Division’s distinction
Palliative care centre celebrates anniversary
Shrewd, curious, daring and different: this detective
Mettur level
Student chapter inaugurated
Two-day workshop for school teachers
Individual water connections still a distant dream for residents of southern suburbs
Seminar on Thirukkural
“Veeramani has no right to interfere”
CPI(M) plea to government
Key person held in cheating case
Tsunami shelter handed over
CITU’s appeal to government

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu