News Flash Daily
05 March 
Wild elephant brought for temple celebrations near Nooranad turns violent; wildlife officials tranquilise the animal after overnight chaos
Alappuzha: A temple festival in Kerala’s Alappuzha district witnessed tense moments after one of the elephants brought for the celebrations suddenly ran amok near Nooranad, injuring its mahout and damaging several vehicles, police officials confirmed on Thursday.
The incident occurred late Wednesday night during festivities in the region under the jurisdiction of the Nooranad Police Station in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. Authorities said the elephant was among three elephants brought to participate in the temple festival, a traditional practice in many parts of the state.
Mahout Injured During Sudden Rampage
According to police sources, the elephant unexpectedly became aggressive during the event, leading to panic among festival attendees and local residents. During the chaos, the mahout, the elephant handler responsible for controlling the animal sustained injuries while attempting to manage the situation.
Officials confirmed that the injured mahout was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Medical authorities stated that his condition is being closely monitored.
“The elephant turned violent during the festival and injured the mahout while several vehicles parked nearby were also damaged,” an officer from the Nooranad police station said.
Vehicles Damaged as Elephant Goes Out of Control
Eyewitnesses reported that the frightened elephant moved erratically through the festival area, causing damage to vehicles parked near the venue. The situation created temporary panic among devotees and residents present at the celebration.
Police and local volunteers quickly moved people to safer areas to prevent further injuries while efforts were made to control the animal.
Wildlife Officials Tranquilise the Elephant
Officials from the Kerala Forest Department were alerted soon after the incident. A team of wildlife experts reached the location and successfully tranquillised the elephant after several hours of monitoring and coordination.
Authorities confirmed that the animal was safely removed from the festival area on Thursday morning to prevent further risk to the public.
Temple festivals in Kerala often feature caparisoned elephants as part of traditional processions, though incidents involving distressed or agitated elephants have occasionally raised concerns over safety and animal welfare.
Police officials said further inquiries are underway to determine the exact circumstances that triggered the elephant’s sudden aggression.
