Elephant causes anxious moments

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 13. A panic-stricken elephant caused anxious moments in the Idagramam and Niramankara areas in the Nemom police station limits early on Tuesday morning.

The elephant, Gopalankutty, which was brought to the city in connection with the Melangode Muthariamman temple festival, became upset when crackers were burst during the ritual procession bearing priests carrying the idol of the temple deity at around 4 a.m.

The elephant took off on its own refusing to heed the commands of its mahouts. The priests atop the elephant managed to dismount and made a speedy escape from the scene.

Soon, a score of youngsters gave chase to the elephant pelting it with stones. The unnerved elephant sought refuge inside a house at Niramankara. When pestered further, the elephant broke the gate of the house and emerged shaking its head at its pursuers. The youth who were chasing the elephant were forced to beat a hasty and unglorious retreat.

The elephant went off again on a speedy trot through the paddy fields surrounding Idagramam, Pappanamcode, Kaimanam and reached Niramankara where it halted. The mahouts who were following the elephant inside a police vehicle managed to chain the pachyderm's during the brief respite from its cross-country run. Later, a veterinary doctor from the zoo gave the elephant a tranquilizer shot to sooth its frayed nerves.

A police team headed by the CI (Nemom), Mr. Vimal Kumar, oversaw the entire operation.

The panic-stricken elephant turns around forcing its pursuers to flee.

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Section  : Southern States
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