Panic in Mysore as a royal elephant goes amuck

Mysore, Mar 15 (UNI) Panic gripped people of this royal city, now an emerging IT hub of Karnataka, today when an elephant of the royal Wadiyar clan strayed into the streets and ran amuck.

Though the elephant, Indira did not attack people, its movement without an attendant alarmed those in the streets, making them run for their lives.

The incident occurred around 0730 hrs when Indira was let free inside the palace gates after bathing. However, it strayed into the streets.

Indira, which ran amuck, was found. Five km away from the Palace, sheltering inside a residential compound. Palace personnel, with the aid of three other elephants, took more than an hour to pacify Indira and bring her back to the Palace. The entire operation was supervised by Mrs Pramodadevi Wadiyar, wife of last scion of the Wadiyar dynasty, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar.

Police had tough time in controlling the crowd that had gathered to see the elephant safely secure inside the palace.

UNI BSP VK VD RN1825