Malampuzha (Palakkad): A female wild elephant was seriously injured after being hit by a train at Kottekkad in Malampuzha on Wednesday.
According to forest officials, the jumbo's hind leg was injured severely, preventing it from standing up.
The animal was crossing the railway track on its way back to the forest after drinking water from a nearby residential area when the accident happened.
Two days after the incident, forest department officials filed a case against an unidentified loco pilot. "We are investigating. We received information about an injured elephant on Wednesday morning. We have inspected the locality and found certain evidence which may indicate it was hit by a passing train. A case has been registered against the loco pilot," said the forest official.
The Forest department has set up a temporary facility at the site to provide aid to the elephant. Forest Veterinary Officer from Thrissur Division, David Abraham informed the media that the elephant has been lying down since Thursday morning and the attempts to raise the elephant have failed.
"There are no external injuries but it seems like there are internal injuries. The elephant reached this spot after the suspected accident on Wednesday. But since yesterday morning it is lying down and unable to stand up. As of now the prognosis is not good," said the official.
He also said all necessary facilities from the nearby elephant rehabilitation centre have been made available at the location and veterinary experts have examined the animal. The elephant is currently lying down in a forest region near Kottekkad Railway station in Palakkad district.
Forest officials' attempts to help the animal stand up using a crane but were unsuccessful, reported Manorama News. They administered proper medication, and gave it water, and food such as watermelon, grass, and coconut water. "We have a veterinary surgeon and an expert team with us and are doing our best," a forest officer told Manorama News.
(With PTI Inputs)
