TIRUCHY: A mahout was killed and two other devotees suffered injuries when the temple elephant went on a rampage near the premises of Samayapuram Temple in Tiruchy on Friday.
According to sources, Gajendran, the 50-year-old mahout, was mauled to death by Masini, the nine-year-old temple elephant. Two other devotees sustained injuries when they attempted to flee the temple. (Click on related image to see gory scene. Warning: Disturbing image. Viewer discretion is advised)
A Murali, JD of Animal Husbandry, after examining the elephant at Samayapuram temple, said that the elephant was now calm. It was also offered water, sugarcane and watermelon.
"I and a few others went near to the 9-year-old elephant and it is behaving normally now. It is under observation. Zoo doctor from Coimbatore has advised not to disturb it for the next six hours. Also, the doctor is on his way to Samayapuram," said Murali.
"It is a female elephant. Only male elephants go musth. In this case, this female elephant went wild as it might have got angry. But the reason is unknown," he further added. [sic]
V Subramani, a security guard at the temple said, "As usual when the elephant entered the temple by 9.40 am, I alerted the guards like I do every time. Around 11:15 am, the elephant's behaviour changed and all of a sudden it attacked its mahout. We immediately evacuated all the devotees from the temple through other entrances."
R Balaji, Lalgudi RDO, said, "Devotees will not be allowed inside the temple until the elephant is shifted. Because it is not safe both for the elephant as well as the people. There won't be Dharsan today."
Later, with another Mahout along the help of forest officials, Masini was brought under control and the body of Kajendran was retrieved and was sent to GH for post-mortem purposes.
Following the incident, Joint commissioner of Samayapuram temple had stated that he dharshan will be cancelled for the whole day. It will be reopened on Saturday after performing special rituals.