A trapped elephant was rescued from a well by forest officials breaking down its walls to create a pathway in south-eastern India.

Footage shows the hapless jumbo waving its trunk as it searched for a way out of the water-filled pit in Gundlapalle, Andhra Pradesh, on November 15.

Concerned villagers called authorities after spotting the pachyderm struggling inside. An excavator was brought to the area to break the edges of the well and dig up the ground, paving a path for the elephant to escape.

The animal was later seen walking back into the forest after its rescue.

District Forest Officer Chaitanya Kumar said the farmers will be compensated for the damage caused to the well.

He said: 'We are appealing to the farmers to build a compound wall around agricultural wells to prevent such incidents from happening. We will also be asking for government support for this purpose.'