Panic grips devotees as temple elephant ran amok

Madurai, Jan 2 (UNI) Panic gripped the devotees at Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple for about an hour when the temple elephant went berserk, causing anxious moments to the authorities concerned here today.

Temple sources said an eleven-year-old female pachyderm 'Parvathi' grew restless after witnessing the brawl of stray dogs, while carrying water for ''Abhisekam'' from the vaigai river near South Gopuram. The temple authorities were following the traditional 'holy theertham' rituals, for washing the presiding deities at the sanctum sanctorum.

The mahout Lakshmanan, however, managed to control the elephant and brought it to the temple.

No one was injured in the incident.

Temple Executive Officer Raja told newspersons that there was no need to panic. Treatment would be given to the elephant, he added.

UNI GSM PDT KP2011