Panicked Elephant Carrying 1,400-lbs. Golden Shrine Runs Amok During Festival Procession in Wild Video
The elephant, 35-year-old Somanna, was taking part in the Jamboo Savari procession in Shivamogga, India, when he suddenly charged back along the route
An elephant carrying a 1,400-lbs. shrine to a Hindu goddess suddenly panicked and ran amok during a festival procession in India
The shrine fell and sustained damage in the commotion, but authorities said no one was injured during the incident
The elephant, Somanna, was given a sedative and was later believed to be recovering back at the temple after the ordeal, The Independent reported
An elephant carrying a 1,400 lbs. shrine to a Hindu goddess suddenly panicked and charged back along a procession in India, causing a commotion among spectators.
The elephant, Somanna, was carrying a gold and silver howdah, a structure containing a shrine to a goddess, on his back during the Jamboo Savari procession in Shivamogga, a city in the state of Karnataka, about 1,250 miles south of New Delhi, The Independent reported.
The procession was part of Dasara, a Hindu festival that commemorates the legend of the goddess Chamundeshwari slaying the demon Mahishasura, and is meant to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Elephant carrying a 1,400-lbs. shrine to a Hindu goddess panics and runs amok during a festival procession in IndiaCredit: Newsflare (2)
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The procession took place at about 2:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Oct. 21, The Times of India reported. It was moving toward the city’s Freedom Park when Somanna, 35, panicked and began to charge back to the Kote Sri Seetharamanjaneya Temple, where the parade began, according to Newsflare via the .
His sudden movement caused the silver howdah carrying the idol of Chamundeshwari to fall and sustain damage, the AP reported.
Elephant carrying a 1,400-lbs. shrine to a Hindu goddess panics and runs amok during a festival procession in IndiaCredit: Newsflare
Another elephant reportedly followed Somanna as he charged back along the route, causing panic among spectators as authorities tried to manage the crowd.
Veterinarians eventually brought the animals under control. Somanna was given a sedative and was later believed to be recovering back at the temple after the ordeal, The Independent reported.
Elephant carrying a 1,400-lbs. shrine to a Hindu goddess panics and runs amok during a festival procession in IndiaCredit: Newsflare
No deaths or injuries were reported during the melee, according to the . However, six of the gold bangles on the idol went missing, per The Times of India.
In response to the incident, Karnataka’s Minister of Forest, Ecology and Environment Ramalinga Reddy has ordered 20 to 30 days of compulsory training for all elephants participating in next year’s procession, according to The Times of India. Somanna was a last-minute replacement for another elephant who had to pull out due to injury, the newspaper reported.
Reddy also said he requested details on what triggered the elephant’s behavior, whether adequate safety measures were in place, as well as what the risks to the public and the level of damage to vehicles were, per the outlet.
Source: Nature