3 elephants run amok during procession at Sri Krishna temple in Kerala

The jumbos ran in different directions and one of them attacked its mahout causing serious injuries.

Three elephants ran amuck at the famous Sri Krishna temple here during ‘Kazhcha seeveli,’ a daily procession of caparisoned elephants on Sunday, causing injuries to at least two persons, including a mahout.

Priests and devotees perform Sheeveli rituals of 15 caparisoned elephants at the Thripoonithuta Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple in Kochi, Kerala. (PTI File Photo/Representative image)

The incident took place around 7 AM when elephants had been lined up in the temple for the seeveli with one of the tuskers carrying the idol of Lord Krishna, police said.

The tusker named Srikrishna ran amuck first, followed by the other two.

Temple sources said the idol had been removed from the elephant when the incident took place.

The jumbos ran in different directions and one of them attacked its mahout causing serious injuries.

A woman devotee also sustained injuries as panic-stricken worshippers ran helter skelter.

The animals were later brought under control.

There had been a heavy rush of devotees today being a holiday and Sabarimala pilgrims also visiting the shrine.