Elephant runs amok, three killed

KOCHI: Three women were killed and nearly 20 persons injured when an elephant ran amok during a temple festival near Perumbavoor on Sunday evening.

Police are yet to confirm the identity of one of the deceased. Nani (65) of Muthathil House, Rayamangalam, and Thankamma (65) of Kuruppampady have been identified from among those killed. The incident occurred at Rayamangalam Koottumadam Sree Subramaniya Swamy temple. The victims were reportedly gored to death by Thechikottukkavu Ramachandran.

Police said seven elephants were paraded at the festival, which began around 3 pm. The elephant turned violent around 6.30 pm when it was being guided into the temple through the main entrance.

Veterinarian Abraham Tharakan, who was at the temple compound when the incident happened, said the confusion created by the change of thidambu from one elephant to another seemed to have triggered the mishap.

Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, one of the tallest tuskers in the state, turned rogue when thidambu was shifted from his back on to another shorter tusker. Ramachandran attacked another elephant Kalakuthan Kannan which fell down. A mahout Sreedharan was trapped under Kannan, but he escaped miraculously. Ramachandran then attacked a woman who died on the spot. The other elephants also started running amok. It is not clear what led to casualties."

The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals.

Veterinarian P I Rajeev who was treating Ramachandran said it had been banned from temple festival two years ago after it ran amok and killed two people during temple festivals in Ernakulam and Kattakampal in Thrissur. The ban was lifted last year after it was found healthy.