Kerala Temple Elephant Rampage Shocks Angamaly, Car Flipped in Viral Video

Kochi– A shocking incident unfolded in Kerala when a captive elephant turned violent at a temple near Kochi, leaving one person dead and another injured. The episode, which occurred on May 1, has drawn widespread attention after dramatic visuals of the rampage surfaced on social media.

The incident took place at a temple in Angamaly, where the elephant—identified as Mayyanad Parthasarathy—had been brought from Kollam. Soon after arriving at the premises, the animal reportedly broke free from its restraints and began attacking vehicles and property in the vicinity.

Eyewitness videos show the elephant lifting a Maruti Swift and smashing it to the ground multiple times. The animal also uprooted a tree and dragged it around, causing panic among locals and damage to nearby two-wheelers and infrastructure.

Authorities confirmed that the rampage resulted in the death of a man who was part of the team handling the animal. He was identified as a resident of Kollam and died on the spot while attempting to manage the situation. The elephant’s mahout sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he is currently recovering.

Forest Department officials and a specialised elephant control team rushed to the location and launched an operation to contain the situation. After several hours of effort, a veterinarian successfully tranquilised the animal. However, officials said the elephant briefly became more aggressive after being darted before eventually calming down.

Once subdued, the elephant was restrained using ropes and secured to nearby trees to prevent further movement. Authorities ensured the animal remained within the temple premises to avoid risk to nearby residential areas.

Preliminary inputs suggest that the elephant had previously participated in major temple festivals, including Thrissur Pooram, and was generally considered calm. Experts believe an unknown trigger may have caused the sudden aggression.

Officials have initiated a detailed inquiry into the incident, including the circumstances under which the elephant lost control and whether safety protocols were followed during its transportation and handling.