Thrissur: The 54-year-old famed elephant ‘Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran‘ would undergo thorough medical test and then a final decision would be taken on whether or not to allow it participate in the famous Thrissur ‘Pooram.‘
A three-member team of experts would carry out the examination today.
Yesterday, district collector T V Anupama, who heads the monitoring committee of experts, held a meeting with various stakeholders. It was decided in the meeting that the administration was prepared to field the elephant for the ritual only if it clears the fitness test.
Speaking to reporters, Anupama said if the elephant does not have any health issues, it would take part in a ritual of the ‘pooram‘ festival, which would be held on Sunday.
The main event of the Thrissur pooram begins with the 10.5-foot-tall elephant pushing open the southern entrance gate of the ancient Vadakkumnathan temple in the city, symbolising the start of the festivities.
The partially blind elephant had run amok several times and has so far killed 13 people and two elephants. Earlier this year, the tusker killed two persons and the district administration banned the parading of the animal.
However, the Kerala high court had earlier in the day refused to interfere in the matter and had stated that the concerned authorities should take a decision on whether or not to use the elephant for pooram falling next week.
Following this Kerala government had sought the legal opinion from Additional Advocate General Renjith Thampan. He in turn advised the government that the tusker can be permitted for participating only in Pooram festival and that too with certain restrictions.
People should be kept away from the jumbo during its parade and steps should be taken to prevent any danger to the people. The authorities concerned should also ensure that the elephant was not provoked, and if any untoward incident occurred, the elephant owners should take responsibility, Renjith Thampan told the government.