Representative image showing an elephant.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: A mahout was killed after an elephant ran amok during an offering ceremony associated with a mosque in Koottanadu in Palakkad district of Kerala on Thursday. It is the second instance of elephant attack this week during festivals in the state.
Kunjumon Ibrahim, 42, who was the mahout of the elephant named Vallamkulam Narayanankutty, was killed late on Thursday night.
The elephant was brought to the 'nercha' (offering) function of Koottanadu Shuhada Makham mosque. The elephant turned amok after the event and attacked the mahout. Another person also suffered injuries. Though the two were rushed to hospital, Kunjumon succumbed to the injuries.
On Tuesday, an elephant named Ganeshan turned amok while it was brought for a temple festival at Chittatukara in Thrissur district. A vendor, identified as Ananadan, 38, was killed.
Even as the Kerala High Court prescribed stringent norms for parading elephants in festivals, festival organisers and several temple committees approached the Supreme Court and got a stay on the fresh guidelines.
The Kerala government was also against the stringent norms prescribed by the high court citing practical difficulties in implementation.