Tusker runs amok in Thrissur; damages vehicles, property

Thrissur: People of Thrissur were in for dreadful shock on Saturday morning when a captive elephant ran amok in the heart of the city and destroyed houses, cars, autos and scooters in broad daylight. The elephant, Sivalakshmi Ayyappan, was brought from Kollam to Thrissur for a festival and it went on rampage while it was being given a bath.

Panic gripped city for more than an hour and people ran helter-skelter for safety cover as the elephant moved from the Chembukkavu area to Gandhi Nagar residential area, leaving a trail of destruction across the nearly 2.5km distance. Some came to know of the incident only when the elephant reached their houses through the narrow lanes and started breaking open the gates and throwing off the aluminum-sheet roofs, and uprooting trees .

The elephant lifted a car and threw it to the sides and the woman, Sangeetha, who was in the driving seat had a miraculous escape, as the tusker left the scene without causing further destruction. "I thought everything was over for me. It was a narrow lane and it was impossible for me to drive in the reverse direction, even though people standing on the sides were warning me about the arrival of the elephant. I was proceeding to my office. Also, my daughter was just behind my car, driving a two-wheeler. I couldn’t even talk for some time even after the people who assembled there helped me to get out of the car through the opposite door, after physically lifting the car," said Sangeetha, who works in a private finance institution.

Meanwhile, journalists who were at the spot to cover the incident alleged that they were attacked by the mahout and some anti-social elements when they were taking pictures of the rampage being unleashed by the elephant. Even though the elephant squad reached the spot, the squad members could not dart the elephant as it was moving through the residential areas. Finally, it was brought under control and tethering it on to a pillar. The elephant sustained injuries and blood was seen flowing from its head and ears.

Heritage Animal Task Force secretary V K Venkitachalam has demanded the forest officials to confiscate the elephant, which is seriously injured and does not have an authentic owner. District collector Sikha Surendran has ordered an inquiry by the revenue department officials into the incident. The collector has asked the DFO and the ACF in-charge of captive elephants also to conduct a probe. The owner of the elephant has insured the elephant, it is learned.

Minister O J Janeesh, who was in the city, visited the spot and directed the officials to prepare a report on the losses caused in the elephant attack. Steps would be taken to provide compensation to those who have suffered losses, he said.