Five Forest Department staff and as many civilians were injured after they were attacked by a herd of elephants near Denkanikottah, 32 km from Hosur in Krishnagiri district, official sources said today.
The pachyderms attacked them while the villagers and forest officials were engaged in driving the herd back into Bannargata Forest Range in adjoining Karnataka state, Forest Department sources said.
They said the elephants had been entering Sanamavu forest area for the past one week, following which villagers took the help of forest officials to drive them back into the forests.
Two rangers, one guard and two watchers were among the forest personnel injured.
All the injured persons have been hospitalised and are out of danger.
One of those receiving treatment said elephant herds entering the border villages in Tamil Nadu from Karnataka forests was common during September-March.
