Kochi: An elephant turned restive while being paraded at the Sree Poornathreyesa Temple in Thripunithura as part of the ‘Vrishchikolsavam’ festival on Thursday morning but was brought under control before it caused any damage. Tusker Nandilath Gopalakarishnan ran amok at 9.10 am, creating panic among hundreds of devotees assembled at the temple to witness ‘Kazhchashiveli’.
“The tusker got scared after a round of ‘Pradakshinam’ and suddenly began to run towards the Eastern gate (main road). Though it didn’t try to attack anyone, some women fell off while trying to run away. No one suffered any injury. The mahouts acted swiftly as they chased it and hooked an iron rope in the chain of the elephant and brought it under control,” said Rathi Harihar, a local resident. The whole melee lasted half an hour. The priest, who was atop the elephant all along, was brought down safely. Veterinary doctor Tarakan who examined the elephant said it was not in musth.
