Kochi |A wild elephant fell into a well in the Malayattoor area of Ernakulam district in the wee hours of Tuesday, but efforts to rescue it are being obstructed by residents, forest officials claimed.

A senior forest official said that the department was informed about the elephant's fall in the well around 5-6 am and immediately personnel were sent there for rescue efforts.

"However, the residents are obstructing the rescue efforts, raising concerns about repeated instances of man-animal conflict in the area and other issues," the official said.

He said that efforts are being made to rescue the jumbo by making a sloping path, using an earthmover, for the elephant to walk out of the well.