Public and kiln workers informed police and forest department officials, who rushed to the place, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem.

Villagers told the officials that the elephant had been moving around in the area for the last six months and had reportedly killed three persons during the period and sought steps to prevent it from entering human habitats.

Meanwhile, a 75-year-old man was attacked by an elephant at Samayapuram near Mettupalayam, about 45 km from Coimbatore.

The man was crossing the road at around 6.30 AM, when the elephant attacked him, creating panic among the residents, police said.