The calf could not come out of the canal when the water level in it suddenly went up due to discharge of water upstream, Divisional Forest Officer of Sonamukhi, Nabin Lohar said.
Three other adult elephants managed to come out of the canal at Dhanshimla village and the herd was being chased out of Sonamukhi towards Darakeswar river on the other side of the district, he said.
The elephants come from Dalma forest in nearby Jharkhand district to look for fodder during this time of the year.