Jumbo rescued from well after 15-hr battle in Dharmapuri

A large team of the Forest Department swung into action at around 6 am after receiving information from villagers about the fall of the elephant. The female jumbo aged around 12 years was pulled out of the well around 8.20 pm.

The pachyderm had slipped into the well, located barely 100 meters away from the forest boundary, when it ventured out in search of food. The Forest Department had a daunting task ahead as the jumbo fell into the well which had a wider opening with a narrow inner shaft. The well was devoid of a boundary wall.

“A ramp couldn’t be made as the well has concrete rings around. Also the narrow well, which had water stagnant for a few feet, was just six to seven feet wide. The animal has been tranquilised twice to pull it out using cranes. And the entire water inside the well was pumped out so that the elephant does not drown, even if it falls under the influence of sedation,” said an official.

While being lifted, the elephant fell midway after a rope tied to its body gave away, but was pulled out successfully in the second attempt. As part of the rescue operations, the staff was lowered into the well in a makeshift container and ropes were tied all around the body of the animal to lift it up. Despite the deep fall, the animal seems to have not suffered any major injuries and remained active inside the well. However, its health condition has to be assessed by a team of experts.