Bengaluru: A speeding Tamil Nadu State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus from Kumbakonam on its way to Bengaluru on Monday morning hit a 10-year-old male elephant near Shoolagiri taluk on the national highway, causing severe internal injuries and bone factures to the pachyderm.
The elephant that was lying suffering on the highway, unattended for many hours, caused a traffic jam. The Shoolagiri taluk forest department officials rescued the elephant after they were alerted.
The Shoolagiri taluk tahsildar told Deccan Chronicle, “The elephant was hit by the Tamil Nadu SETC bus at 5.30 in the morning. The forest officials rescued the makhna elephant (bull elephant), which is around 10-11 years old lying on the road. Foresters used a crane and lifted the elephant to a lorry. The elephant is now getting first-aid from the local veterinarians in Shoolagiri, and will be shifted to Mudumalai forest range, where the elephant will get further treatment and will be released back to the wild.”
The officials said that this incident is first of its kind in the area and that a case has been filed against the government bus driver for speeding and causing injuries to the elephant. It will be shifted in a truck to the Mudumalai forest.
