A wild elephant that strayed into human habitations at Thondur in Kadambur hills and attacked an elderly woman was chased into the forest after five hours on Monday.
The elephant entered the habitation near the forest and attacked Gurunathammal, 60, while she was cleaning atemple. She was admitted to the Government Hospital at Sathyamangalam with an injured leg.
Forest officials were informed and a team, led by Sathyamangalam District Forest Officer Arunlal, forest ranger Bernard, T.N. Palayam forest ranger Manojkumar, and wildlife veterinarian of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve K. Ashokan, arrived at the spot.
The team tried to chase the elephant into the forest by using a tractor and an earthmover. It fell while crossing a pit. After 10 minutes, it got up and entered a field. An ambulance was used to raise a siren and the jumbo entered the forest.
The woman was shifted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for further treatment. Officials said that she was initially given ₹ 5,000 and full compensation would be provided later. People wanted the existing trench to be maintained properly so that straying of wild animals could be prevented.
