Temple Elephant Runs Amok, Damages Vehicles and Houses

Panic gripped parts of Kerala’s Thrissur district on Saturday after a temple elephant went on a rampage, damaging vehicles and houses and even flipping a moving car with a woman trapped inside.

The elephant, identified as Shivalakshmi Ayyappan, reportedly turned violent near the South Gopuram entrance of the Vadakkumnathan Temple while being stopped for photography.

According to police, the elephant ran amok from Kattapparam in Peringavu, moved through Palace Road, and later entered Gandhi Nagar Street — a densely populated residential area with nearly 300 houses.

Authorities said the elephant damaged around six cars and the compound walls of two houses during the rampage.

One of the most shocking moments occurred when the elephant allegedly lifted and overturned a moving car. The woman inside the vehicle was rescued safely by local residents.

Eyewitnesses said the elephant was moving without a mahout when people realised something was wrong.

“A moving car was flipped by the elephant and people inside got trapped. We somehow managed to pull them out safely,” a local resident said.

The driver of the overturned car, identified as Sangeetha, said she was heading to work when people on a scooter warned her about the elephant approaching the area.

She said her daughter was travelling behind her on a scooter, and while trying to alert her by honking and asking her to turn back, the elephant suddenly attacked the vehicle.

“The elephant lifted my car and overturned it. I got trapped inside before people rescued me. I am still in shock,” she said.

According to Viyyur police, officials received information about the incident around 9:15 am. Police personnel, forest officials and the elephant control squad rushed to the area and later managed to restrain the animal by chaining it to a wall.

Thrissur Mayor Niji Justin said the elephant has been brought under temporary control and discussions are underway regarding its safe transportation. She also stated that the elephant sustained injuries to its ears and limbs during the incident.

Meanwhile, tension briefly erupted between local residents and media personnel covering the incident. Some residents objected to visuals of the elephant being recorded and broadcast, claiming it could affect the animal’s chances of being hired for temple festivals in the future.

During the confrontation, a cameraperson reportedly sustained minor injuries after equipment was hit.

Fortunately, no major injuries or deaths were reported in the incident.

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