Kumali: An elephant which fell into a tank full of grimy water in Thekkady was rescued on Thursday after it struggled to extricate itself. Forest department officials used a JCB to break one side of the tank as the female jumbo struggled to get out.
The elephant fell in the 10-feet tank in front of the KTDC's Periyar House, a hotel near Thekkady boat landing, early on Wednesday. Used water from the hotel flows into this tank. The jumbo fell in as the concrete slab covering it broke under its weight.
Other members of the herd were seen waiting on the brink of the forest for the elephant to get out of the tank. Officials send the herd further into the woods to avoid untoward incidents involving tourists who had gathered around. Logs were used to barricade off the area to make sure elephants did not charge. The water was drained from the tank and its side broken. The elephant remained calm all this while. It tried to use hind legs to get out but failed as tank was narrow for the animal's size.
The jumbo then tried to smash the JCB with its trunk in frustration. More mud was removed and water drained. This time it came out of the tank and joined the herd in the forest across the street.
