Elephant sighting near Denkannikottai government hospital triggers fear

Krishnagiri: An unusual visitor - a wild elephant visiting the Denkannikottai government hospital (GH) in Krishnagiri triggered panic among people staying on the hospital campus.

A deaf makhna elephant searching for its family was found staying in a small lake close to the GH on Saturday night. Forest staff deployed to goad the animal tried to drive it towards the forest but the animal moved in another direction and came to the GH.

People staying on the campus panicked and tried to flee, but the wild elephant moved out of the GH campus without disturbing them. It then entered Denkannikottai town and passed through Patel colony and Dhotti before reaching the rear of the government higher secondary school on the Denkannikottai-Hogennakkal road.

Forest staff followed it and successfully goaded it into the Maraghatta reserved forest. From there it is expected to move towards Hogenakkal and reunite with another herd.

"The makhna was searching for its family since it moved out of the herd. We tried to reunite the animal with another herd that stays in the Maraghatta reserved forest or move it towards the Cauvery river in Hogenakkal," an elephant chaser said.

"It was a big challenge for us to chase the animal back into the forest because the makhna is deaf; bursting crackers or drum beats are of no use," he added.