Kozhikode: A temple festival in Kerala turned tragic on Thursday after two captive elephants ran amok, resulting in the deaths of three people, including two women, and injuries to 24 others. The incident occurred near Koyilandy in Kozhikode district during the annual festival at Manakkulangara Bhagavathy temple in Kuravangad.
Eyewitnesses reported that the elephants became agitated around 6 p.m. during the seeveli (evening procession), allegedly triggered by the sound of firecrackers. “One elephant suddenly grew aggressive and attacked the other with its tusks, leading to a brief scuffle. In the ensuing chaos, people were knocked to the ground, and a temporary festival office collapsed,” said Rajeesh, a local municipal councillor.
Authorities are still determining whether the victims were trampled by the elephants or died in a stampede. Video footage from cellphones showed one elephant pushing the other, causing panic as both tuskers bolted from the festival venue. Officials later confirmed that the elephants were brought under control.
Koyilandy MLA Kanathil Jameela confirmed that many of the injured suffered fractures and severe wounds. “Some fell from atop the elephants, while others were caught in the crowd surge. A 10-year-old girl is among the injured,” she said. She also pointed out recurring safety issues with captive elephants at religious festivals.
This tragedy comes just 10 days after a similar incident in Thrissur, where a 38-year-old man was killed by a rampaging elephant at another temple festival. On February 6, a mahout lost his life when an elephant turned violent after a ceremony at a mosque in Palakkad.
Kerala has 388 registered captive elephants, with 349 privately owned and frequently used in religious processions. While temple authorities argue that using elephants is a deep-rooted tradition, reports of elephants running amok and mistreatment by mahouts remain widespread.
In response to increasing accidents, the Kerala High Court issued strict guidelines last year, including a mandated three-meter gap between elephants, restricted festival hours, and designated safety zones for the public. However, major temple boards in Thrissur challenged these rules in the Supreme Court, arguing they would disrupt festival traditions. In December, the Supreme Court stayed the high court’s orders, allowing temple processions to continue without additional restrictions.
Thursday’s tragedy has reignited debates over the safety and ethical treatment of captive elephants in religious celebrations.
