Forest Range Officer for Mettupalayam M. Nazeer said that the electric line got snapped due to the heavy winds and rain in the late hours of Tuesday.

Rain and wind that lashed that area resulted in the falling of many trees in the farm lands close to the forest. Mr. Nazeer said that elephants and other wild animals used to graze in farms close to the forest. The place where the animals got electrocuted is about half a kilometre from the forest and was patta land belonging to M.N. Gopal.

The banana plantations amidst arecanut and coconut plantations regularly attracted elephants.

“On Tuesday night the heavy wind sent down a coconut tree that fell on a guy-wire supporting an electric post in the land.

This bent the post and a wire on the post got disconnected. It went unnoticed and was not noticed and taken to the notice of the Tangedco personnel,” he said.

This was noticed by the farm owner Mr. Gopal on Wednesday morning. On information received from him forest personnel visited the place and conducted preliminary investigations.

Forest Veterinary Officer N.S. Manoharan conducted post-mortem examination, which revealed that the animals died of electrocution. Forest personnel said that there was no foul play behind the incident and that the remains of the two animals were buried in the forest nearby.

Meanwhile, the Tangedco and Revenue officials also visited the place and conducted preliminary inquiries. The faulty electric post and line were mended before electricity was restored.