A captive elephant turned violent at a temple festival in southern India, leaving one person dead and several others injured. The incident took place in Kochi, in the state of Kerala, and caused panic among people gathered at the temple.
Sudden violence at temple
According to police, the elephant had been brought to a temple in Kidangoor, Angamaly, for a festival on May 1. During the event, the animal suddenly became aggressive and began attacking people nearby. Officers said at least two individuals were injured, and one of them later died from his injuries.
Television footage showed the elephant moving around the temple grounds in a distressed state. People at the scene quickly ran for safety as the situation became dangerous.
Vehicles badly damaged
The elephant also caused heavy damage to property. It flipped a parked car several times, completely destroying it. A few motorcycles and other vehicles nearby were also damaged during the incident.
Officials said a special elephant squad from the Forest Department was called in to control the situation. Their main concern was to stop the elephant from moving out of the temple area into a crowded public space.
An officer from the Angamaly police station confirmed that the person who died was a lorry driver. The elephant’s main handler, known as a mahout, was also seriously injured while trying to manage the animal.
Efforts to control elephant
The elephant remained aggressive for more than two hours before a veterinarian arrived and used a tranquilizer to calm it. After being hit with the dart, the animal became briefly more agitated and flipped another vehicle inside the temple compound.
However, the elephant gradually calmed down after some time. Forest officials then managed to restrain it by tying ropes to its hind legs and securing it to nearby trees. A person linked to the elephant said it had taken part in past temple festivals, including the well-known Thrissur Pooram, and was usually calm in nature.
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