An elephant runs amok in Kerala

Malappuram, Kerala/ Ranchi, Dec 5 : A tame elephant in Kerala's Malappuram district ran amok and damaged several vehicles on a busy road while being led to the venue of temple festival.

After five hours of mayhem, forest officials managed to tranquilize the elephant and calm it down.

According to eyewitnesses, the elephant injured its mahout (keeper) and damaged around eight vehicles, including cars, bikes and auto-rickshaws.

Eyewitnesses said the elephant named 'Parameshvaran' probably turned violent after being ill treated by its mahout.

Elephants are used for temple festivals in southern India, and particularly in processions in Kerala.

Meanwhile, a herd of about 18 elephants entered the Chaibasa city of Jharkhand and injured several locals.

The very sight of the pachyderms spread panic among locals.

The jumbos entered the city from nearby forest areas. Forest officials were unable to control the marauding herd for sometimes.

Of late, instances of man-animal conflict have been on the rise. This is attributed to industrialisation including mining of iron and mica ores at the cost of forest lands of Jharkhand.

Such incidents of man-animal encounter have resulted in fast depletion of forest areas, forcing animals straying into the human habitat in search of food.

ANI