The Hindu : Hungry elephant vents fury on vehicles

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 19, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Hungry elephant vents fury on vehicles

By Akila Dinakar

CHENNAI July 18. A hungry she-elephant ran amok at Vadapalani on Wednesday night, smashing vehicles and creating panic, before it was calmed down with food.

Residents behind the Vadapalani Subramanya Swamy Temple said the animal was chained to a cement slab by its mahout before going for his dinner, leaving it in the care of a young boy. It broke loose and ran about trumpeting, smashing a Metrowater truck and a stationary jeep near a mechanic shed in the area adjoining the open temple land on Nerkundram Padai.

Around 9-15 p.m., the R-8 Vadapalani police station was informed. The police team came around 9-45 p.m. with eight banana fronds and fed the hungry jumbo. The police also pulled down some fronds from the coconut trees nearby to feed it. And only then the animal calmed down.

K. R. Selvarajan, Forest Ranger, Wildlife Enforcement Range, who came around 10-45 p.m., arrested the mahout and said the elephant would be taken to the Guindy Children's Park.

The animal is owned by Manapakkam Narayanan. The Ranger said another animal that caused trouble on the Poonamallee High Road a couple of months ago also belonged to the same owner.

A mechanic at Mohan Automobiles said the elephant was rattling the gate after smashing the truck and injuring its trunk in the process. Once it was fed, the elephant behaved normally despite the bright lights of television cameras and car headlights.

Basheela, which has acted in films in addition to taking part in temple and private functions, is friendly with every one. It entertains children by winking, says a production manager of a movie company.

As an inquisitive crowd gathered to watch the goings-on, a minor traffic jam ensued before the pachyderm was led away at 11 p.m.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Continued heavy inflows unlikely

`Fisheries development to become people's movement'

Collectors barred from flying tricolour on motor cars

Huge haul in IT raids at 3 actors' houses

Arrest, ban move needless: BJP

Don't meddle with varsity freedom, Gnanam tells Central agencies

BSNL cellular service in Chennai by year-end

Salem gets permanent helipad

Plea against FDI in print media misconceived: Govt.

Bank to pay compensation for unlawful hotlisting of credit cards

HC concludes Balan case

White kerosene blues for diesel dealers

Hungry elephant vents fury on vehicles

Varsity team may attend Kalam swearing-in