Kerala - Kochi
Marauding jumbo tranquillised

Staff Reporter

After killing a man, it ran amok

KOCHI : An elephant that ran amok after killing a man in Parvaur town on Sunday night was tranquillised early on Monday morning.

Ramesan, 36, son of Ramagovinda Kamath, of Pandikkudi in Fort Kochi, was killed by the elephant while he was trying to offer it bananas. The incident occurred near the Kannankulangara temple.

The elephant was being taken to Muppathadam after attending a festival in a temple near Paravur. Ramesan was assisting the senior mahout, Thampi, of the pachyderm.

Mr. Thampi, 47, of Onakkoor, was seriously injured by the elephant and has been admitted to the Government hospital at Paravur.

The elephant also turned its ire against a bus carrying pilgrims from Alappuzha to Palani. The bus driver ran away on seeing the elephant carrying the body of Ramesan on its tusks. The elephant pushed the bus against a wall, which collapsed. The passengers were saved as people diverted its attention by making noise using tin sheets.

An expert team, led by Abraham Tharakan, veterinarian, brought the elephant under control with a tranquillizer shot by around 1 a.m.

The elephant has been secured on the Kannankulangara temple grounds.
(The Hindu - 18/04/06)