An adult female elephant was fatally knocked down by a train near Madukkarai in Coimbatore early on Monday morning.

The elephant was a part of a herd of six that was trying to flee into the forest after the villagers of Ettimadai area burst crackers to chase it away. The herd had entered their agricultural lands shortly after midnight.

Forest personnel said that as the herd tried to cross the track the female pachyderm was hit by the (Bangalore to Thiruvanthapuram) Kochiveli Express around 1.30 a.m. It took place between the Madukkarai and Ettimadai railway stations. The hit was close to a board erected by the railways to signal to engine drivers that it is a path frequented by elephants.

The incident took place about four kilometers away from the place where four elephants were run over by a train in 2008.

Forest personnel had to chase away other herd members that stood close to the dead one for more than four hours, not allowing anyone to approach.

District forest officer (in-charge) A. Periyasamy, who visited the place and conducted preliminary inquiries told The Hindu that a meeting would be organised with the railways in a couple of days to take steps to prevent such incidents.

The carcass was removed from the track by an earthmover and a forest veterinarian conducted a post mortem close to the track.