A temple festival in Kerala turned deadly on Thursday evening when two elephants ran amok at the Kuruvangad Manakkulangara Temple in Koyilandi, killing three people and injuring nearly 30 others.
According to a Gulf News report, the chaos erupted after firecrackers were set off as part of the festival, agitating the elephants. As the animals clashed, panic spread among the large crowd of devotees. In the commotion, the elephants stormed into a nearby building, causing its collapse and crushing three people to death. The victims were identified as Leela (65), Ammukutty (70), and Rajan.
At least seven people sustained serious injuries, while 22 others suffered minor wounds in the ensuing stampede. Local authorities have instructed the government hospital in Koyilandi to provide the best possible medical care for the injured.
The incident comes amid ongoing debates over the use of elephants in temple festivals. The Kerala High Court had previously imposed strict regulations on elephant parades, but the Supreme Court stayed these guidelines in December, ruling them impractical and inconsistent with existing elephant management rules.
Authorities are now investigating the circumstances of the incident, as concerns grow over safety measures at festivals involving elephants.
