At least one other person was injured amid the incident on Friday, May 1
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- An elephant broke free from its chains and became aggressive near the Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple in India on Friday, May 1
- According to witnesses, the large animal lifted a man with its trunk before trampling and fatally goring him
- Hours later, a second fatal incident occurred at another temple when an elephant that had shown signs of restlessness the night before broke out of its enclosure
A man in India was fatally gored after an elephant broke free from its chains and wreaked havoc.
On Friday, May 1, a man — identified as Vishnu, a native of Kollam — died shortly after transporting an elephant to the nearby Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple for blessings as part of a festival, local news outlets Onmanorama, The Free Press Journal and News Karnataka reported.
While being taken for watering at around 9:15 a.m. local time, the elephant allegedly became aggressive and attacked Vishnu, 40, after freeing itself from its chains. According to News Karnataka, eyewitnesses claimed to see the large animal lift the driver with its trunk before trampling and fatally goring him.
The elephant also rammed into and injured its primary caretaker, Pradeep, Onmanorama reported, citing Angamaly Police. Pradeep was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Credit: Getty
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Videos shared on social media show the elephant ramming its tusks into the sides of cars as residents watched helplessly nearby. In another clip, the massive animal is seen wrapping its trunk around trees before tearing them out of the ground as it continues its rampage.
Witnesses told Onmanorama the elephant recklessly wandered around the temple grounds, ramming into the sides of houses and flipping scooters, as officials attempted to control the situation. A parked car was also overturned amid the rampage.
A specialized elephant squad was eventually deployed to the scene, after which it took nearly four hours to successfully tranquilize the animal, according to The Free Press Journal.
Hours after the terrifying rampage, a similar fatal incident took place at Koodalminikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda when an elephant that had shown signs of restlessness during a ritual procession the night before broke out of its enclosure and attacked its handlers, per News Karnataka.
While one of the caretakers, Sreekuttan, suffered chest injuries from being trampled and died at a nearby hospital, a second caretaker, Amal, sustained injuries and continues to receive medical care.
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