Elephant brought for religious ceremony runs amok, four hurt

The elephant was scheduled to participate in a procession at Nai Sadak area. Suddenly, the pachyderm bolted due to which his mahout Zakir fell on the ground. Later, it reached Aurangabad where it overturned a stage set up for Ramlila.

Panic prevailed in the densely populated Aurangabad area here on Thursday noon when an elephant that was scheduled to participate in a procession went on a rampage. It trampled a rickshaw, damaged a Ramlila stage, knocked down three tempos and a scooter. In the ensuing chaos, four persons were injured.

The CCTV image of the elephant at Aurangabad area of Varanasi on Thursday.

Till last reports came in, the pachyderm had ventured out of the town after sustaining an electric shock from a live electricity wire that broke when it damaged a pole.

According to local corporator Omprakash Chaurasia, the elephant was scheduled to participate in a procession at Nai Sadak area. Suddenly, the pachyderm bolted due to which his mahout Zakir fell on the ground, however he did not sustain any injuries and fled from the spot. Meanwhile, the pachyderm started running amok and from Nai Sadak it reached Aurangabad where it overturned a stage set up for Ramlila. Nirmaldutt Mishra, who was near the stage, suffered injuries. The elephant also knocked down the chariot that was brought there for Bharat Milap ceremony.

Thereafter, the elephant turned towards tempos parked along the roadside knocking three of them. Meanwhile, on seeing the situation a stampede ensued in which three people sustained minor injuries.

Thereafter, Chaurasia said, the pachyderm turned towards an electricity pole and knocked it during which live electricity supply wire broke and fell on the animal following which it suffered an electric shock. This stopped the elephant for sometime after which it started running again and reached Sigra area. However, the pachyderm by then had calmed down probably due to the electric shock and ventured towards Lohta area, situated on the city outskirts. Chaurasia said locals came out their homes only after the elephant left.