Elephant runs amok at temple fest in Kerala, kills three

Irinjalakkuda (Kerala), Apr 24 : An elephant went on the rampage killing three people, including a woman, at a temple festival in Kerala.

The incident took place during an ongoing festival at the famous Kootalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakkuda in Kerala.

Three persons, including a woman were killed by the pachyderm named 'Tiruvalla Unnikrishnan', which suddenly turned violent and ran amok, trampling and goring people at the temple.

The 75-year-old woman was standing just behind the elephant, when it grew excited and she was trampled to death by the animal.

Of the other two who were killed, one was gored to death while the other was trampled in a similar manner.

The commotion and rampage was however put to an end by a team of veterinarians who administered tranquilizers and calmed the elephant, which was chained and contained.

The government and the Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikya Devaswom sanctioned an assistance of Rs.2 lakh each to the kith and kin of the dead.

The same elephant had turned violent at last year's Koodalmanikya Temple festival.

ANI