A herd of 13 elephants, including two calves, has been striking terror in Theethipalayam and its surrounding villages for the last few days.

The elephants had wandered into the village, away from its ‘original corridor,’ which was taken over by farms and houses, and reached Theethipalayam, by destroying walls, electric posts and water tanks on its way.

The herd was quietly passing by the village, but the villagers scared them away by bursting crackers during night hours, in the presence of officials from forest department. The next evening the herd returned, driving the villagers indoors.

This morning, however, the number had come down to three, with the parents of a calf simply staying back in the village despite the crackers. The parents are scaring humans away from the baby elephant.

The forest department is continuing with its efforts to scare the elephants away with siren vehicles and crackers.