Elephant trapped in well rescued in India

KOCHI: After several hours of hard work by a rescue team of forest and police officials yesterday, a wild elephant which had fallen into a well on private property in the Indian state of Kerala was pulled out and allowed to walk into the forest.

But the rescue operation was halted for a while when the locals created a furore stating that they needed to be assured that the frequent damage caused by herds of wild elephants to their crops would be compensated for.

It was after top forest officials assured them that the locals agreed that the rescue operation resumed and the elephant was freed.

Locals had heard the cries of an elephant and found it stuck in the well. The rescue team was also helped by a large number of local people.