Midnapore, Aug. 16 -- A desperate rescue attempt by a herd of elephants turned tragic in the Chandra forest range of West Midnapore, with a two-and-a-half-year-old calf dying after becoming trapped in a muddy paddy field shortly after midnight on Saturday.
The calf, which had been moving with four other elephants after the group became separated from its herd a few days ago, reportedly became stuck deep in the mud after the animals emerged from the forest searching for paddy.
The accompanying elephants, including the calf's mother, spent hours trying to pull it free, according to forest officials. But the rescue effort ended in tragedy when the calf could not be pulled from the mud.
A forest officer said the mother elephant was reportedl...