Guruvayur: In a tragic incident, a temple elephant caused havoc at an house warming function, killing two elderly people near Kottapady, Kerala, on Friday.
According to sources, the house owner at whose house the incident took place was is a member of the managing committee of a nearby temple, where the elephant had been brought for a festival which is to take place next week. The compound of the new house was crowded and the elephant named Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, which is also known as the tallest elephant in Kerala, ran out causing the people gathered here run helter-skelter. Two people identified as Babu (66) and Gangadharan (60) were killed in the incident and nine others suffered minor injuries.
A case under Indian Penal Code sections – 304(A) (causing death by negligence), 337 (causing hurt by endangering the life or personal safety of others) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals) had been registered against the mahout of the elephant, said the report.