In a bizarre incident, an elephant calf accidentally fell into a house through the asbestos sheet roof but was rescued by its herd, even as the animals destroyed the house in the hilly district early today.
The incident occurred at Kozhipalam near Gudalur, about 80 km from here, around 2.30 AM when Yakoob and his family members, who were fast asleep, woke up on hearing a loud noise and finding to their horror the elephant calf in their house.
The Forest department officials said Yakoob's wife was injured in the melee and has been hospitalised.
According to the forest officials, the calf, estimated to be 18-months old, was moving along with a herd when it strayed and walked onto the asbestos sheet roof of the house, which collapsed under its weight.
The baby elephant then started running helter skelter, damaging utensils and furniture and trumpeting loudly in a bid to escape.
Subsequently, a herd of six elephants reached the place and started damaging the house in a bid to rescue the calf.
The windows, a television set and walls of the house were damaged by the jumbos, the officials said.
Yakoob, his wife Subaida, two-year-old daughter and his mother ran out of the house to safety.
On receiving the information, the Forest department officials rushed to the spot and scared away the elephants after a two hour-long struggle, they added.
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