A herd of wild elephants that strayed into human habitations from the reserve forests near Hosur three days ago were driven back into the forests in the early hours of Friday.
The Forest Department formed special teams to drive the herd back into the reserve forests.
However, the widespread rain proved a hindrance to the initiative of forest personnel.
Only when the forest personnel burst firecrackers and beat the drums did the wild animals run into Thenkanikottai reserve forests.
District Collector T. P. Rajesh held a meeting at the Collectorate at Krishnagiri to review the situation.
Forest personnel had been warning people over public address system in all the villages against venturing into the forests. They have also been distributing pamphlets to the people.
The residents had been advised against entering the forests for grazing the cattle and collecting fire wood.
They have been advised to keep the lights on outside their houses at nights.
The Forest Department formed special teams to drive the herd back into the reserve forest.