Tirupati/Kadiri, Sept. 8: A rabies-infected wolf on Wednesday created havoc in seven villages for about nine hours in Chittoor district, biting and scratching at least 40 people before angry villagers stoned the animal to death. The condition of at least two of the victims is said to be serious. The wolf, considered a highly endangered species, was spotted in Pidiguvari Palle in PTM mandal around 4 am. The animal plunged through a group of farmers and scratched and bit five of them, before melting into the darkness. The victims could not identify the animal and this led to rumours that some mysterious animal had entered the village. It was also mistaken for a leopard and hyena. The village youth launched a hunt for the animal, which ran through half-a-dozen villages, including Uyyalla Palle and Boosupalle, and attacked about 35 more people, including women and children. Over 200 villagers joined the hunt in all directions and finally located the animal at Eguva Kukkala Palle village, where it tried to attack school children. Infuriated villagers surrounded the wolf and stoned it to death. Some villagers threw everything they could find at the animal. Forest personnel following the trail of the animal, with orders to shoot it to death, finally reached the village to see the animal dead. As many as 26 victims were rushed to the Madanapalle Government Hospital for emergency treatment, while others reached out to private hospitals. The condition of two turned serious and they were rushed to the SVRR hospital at Tirupati. Meanwhile, in Kadiri a wolf attacked several people in Tanakallu and injured at least 25 people on Tuesday night. The condition of two victims is stated to be critical. The victims were admitted to the government hospital here, while some are being treated at Madanapalle and Molakalacheruvu hospitals. The villagers were finally able to corner the wolf and kill it.