The procession began at the premises of Kote Anjaneya Swami Temple in Shivamogga after Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalakatti and MLA Channabasappa flagged off.
BENGALURU: Tamed elephant Somanna panicked during jumbo savari procession in Shivamogga on Wednesday which resulted in the howdah mounted on back falling on the ground along with the mahout who sustained injuries. The panicked elephant came under control later on.
The procession began at the premises of Kote Anjaneya Swami Temple in Shivamogga after Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalakatti and MLA Channabasappa flagged off.
The procession went for a couple of distance before the tamed elephant panicked for some reasons and ran amok leading to tension among the public for a while. It is doubted the elephant panicked over sound from beating drums and huge crowds gathering on the road.
After the elephant ran amok, its mahout tried to calm the animal but in vain and the jumbo in panic continued to run on the road directionless. Later, the howdah fell and mahout was the next to hit the ground. A couple of vehicles parked on the roadside were damaged in the incident.
Sources attributed officials’ concern to replace tamed elephant Sagar at the last time and the responsibility was put on Somanna drawn from Sakarebailu Elephant Camp. Sagar is undergoing treatment over his injury to the feet.
