Elephant herd damages house, temple wall

A herd of wild elephants entered a village and partly damaged a house, a temple wall and idols inside it in the early hours of today.
The herd comprising three adults and four calves came from nearby jungles of Western Ghats in Kanuvai and entered the habitat, damaged the compound wall of a house even as its occupants a woman and two children ran to safety, police said.
Fearing for life, the family took shelter in neighbour's house, even as the elephants damaged the compound wall and consumed food items including rice, wheat and vegetables, stored in the kitchen.
On its return journey, the herd damaged the wall of a temple, the gate of sanctum sancturom and idols at the entrance of the village, triggering a panic situation.

On information, officials from forest department rushed to the spot and managed to scare away the herd back into the jungles, they said.