Three devotees were killed and several others were hurt, when two captive elephants performed Amok during a celebration at Koilandi in Kozhikode district of Kerala. The incident at 6 pm on Thursday injured 36 people, some of them suffered serious injuries.
The deceased has been identified as Ammukutty, 70, Leela, 65, and Rajan, 70, all of whom succumbed to a report on Hindu due to continuous head injuries during nervousness.
On Thursday, on the last day of the ceremony, the temple ground was packed with the people present. Eyewitnesses and police reports indicate that two elephants brought to the temple for the festival suddenly got excited.
கேரளா: கோழிக்கோடு கோழிக்கோடு கோயில் திருவிழாவில் பங்கேற்ற பங்கேற்ற பங்கேற்ற 2 மோதல், பட்டாசு கேட்டு மிரண்டு மிரண்டு ஓட்டம் ஓட்டம்
யானைகள் யானைகள் மிதித்ததில் உயிரிழப்பு, கூட்ட நெரிசலில் இரு இரு பெண்கள் பலி ..! #Kerala #Kozhikode #Elephant #Temple #Festival pic.twitter.com/fbhklqjmas
– kᴀʙᴇᴇʀ – தக்கலை கபீர் கபீர் (@Autokabeer) 14 February, 2025
In a terrible turn of incidents, the animals accused a small building near the temple. The effect collapsed a part of the building wall, which implicated many people under the rubble. Fall directly caused the death of the three victims, while others suffered injuries in the upcoming chaos.
According to a report on PTI, an officer at Koilandy Police Station said, “People also got nervous, resulting in Stamped about 20 people suffering from minor injuries,” an officer of Koilandi Police Station said according to a report on PTI. .
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences, called it a “tragedy”.
In response to the incident, State Forest Minister AK Sessndran has called for an immediate report from the District Collector and Chief Conservator of Northern Region. The report will determine whether Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) were a violation of rules that control the treatment and handling of elephants used in such events. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
Meanwhile, State Health Minister Veena George has directed local hospitals to prioritize the treatment of the injured. Special arrangements have been made at Koilandy Taluk Hospital and Kozhikode Medical College to ensure that adequate medical workers, including specialist doctors and nurses, are available for the care of the victims.
