As many as 17 people were injured, including one critically, when an elephant went agitated during the Puthiyangadi annual ‘nercha’ at the BP Angadi festival in Kerala’s Malappuram district late last night. The incident took place in Tirur, where a large crowd had gathered to witness the event.
Footage from the festival shows five elephants adorned with golden ornaments parading through the crowd as spectators recorded the moment. Suddenly, one of the elephants, Pakkathu Sreekuttan, became uncontrollable. Despite the mahout’s attempts to regain control, the elephant charged into the crowd, creating panic.
In the confusion, the elephant raised a man by its trunk and threw him up in the air, rendering him critically wounded. He is taken to the MIMS Hospital at Kotakkal for further treatment. All most all injuries caused occurred due to the stampede kind of a situation as all began running here and there.
Watch the viral video:
#WATCH | Malappuram, Kerala: Many people were injured when an elephant turned violent during Puthiyangadi annual ‘nercha’ at BP Angadi, Tirur
(Source: Taluk Disaster Response Force) pic.twitter.com/jlm7tCGTxf
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2025
Efforts to calm the elephant involved multiple individuals using chains to restrain it, which took nearly two hours. Once subdued, the animal was tied near a mast to prevent further incidents.
A 37-year-old tribal man was trampled to death by a wild elephant earlier this week in the Nilambur forest area. The incident took place at Poochappara settlement of Karulai forest range, where Mani, belonging to the Cholanaikkan community, was on his way back to his village after taking his children to a tribal hostel.
In another heart-wrenching incident last November, a temple elephant in Chennai killed a 45-year-old mahout along with his relative. This incident occurred at Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu. According to eyewitnesses, a temple elephant, Deivanai, killed Udhayakumar and Sivabalan after this young man, Sivabalan, reportedly entered its enclosure. Both died at the hospital.
