Kandasamy was going to the estate near Ovalley in Gudalur taluk, when a tusker blocked his way.
Though he ran back to his house, the elephant chased and pulled him down with its trunk in front of his house, police said.
The elephant fled in panic after the neighbours screamed, they said.
Kandasamy was admitted to the government hospital at Pandalur but later shifted to the government hospital here.
He sustained injuries on his spine and legs, they said.