Elephant Attacks Omni Van
Six persons, including a pregnant woman, had a providential escape after a wild elephant attacked their car near Forest College at Mettupalayam on Tuesday morning. Gurusamy, 25, and four others were taking Gouri, 23, to a private hospital in Mettupalayam for her delivery. When the vehicle reached Odanthurai reserve forest near Forest College on Kotagiri- Mettupalayam Road, the driver saw an elephant crossing the road to enter the forest and stopped the vehicle. Suddenly a two-wheeler crossed the road. Assuming that the animal had entered the forest, the car driver started the vehicle and this provoked the pachyderm. When the elephant attacked the windscreen of the vehicle, all the six raised an alarm. Before people from the forest college and nearby area reached for help, the elephant ran back into the forest. The front glass of the car was damaged in the attack. Kallar Forester Nazeer, who visited the place, advised people to avoid travelling on Mettupalayam-Kotagiri road during night as elephants used the road while they are in search of water.
