A temple festival in Kerala’s Kozhikode district turned deadly on Thursday evening when two elephants ran amok, killing two women and injuring dozens. The incident occurred during a procession at the Manakulangara temple in Koyilandy, sending panic through the gathered crowd.
Chaos Unfolds During Festival Procession
According to police reports, the incident began when one elephant attacked another, causing panic among the attendees. As the crowd tried to flee, several people fell, leading to injuries from trampling. Amid the chaos, the elephants went on a rampage, destroying the temple office.
Two women, one of whom was over 80 years old, lost their lives. Around 30 others sustained injuries, with at least five in critical condition.
#Kerala: Two people, Leela and Ammu Kutty, were killed, and several others injured when two elephants went on a rampage during the Manakkulangara Temple festival on Thursday.
The injured have been hospitalized, including at Kozhikode Medical College, with some in critical… pic.twitter.com/mhNxj5rvdO
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) February 13, 2025
Rising Concerns Over Elephant Parades
This deadly incident comes less than three months after the Kerala High Court issued strict guidelines on the parading of elephants during festivals. Despite these measures, Kerala has witnessed multiple instances of elephants running amok during the ongoing festival season, raising concerns about safety protocols and animal welfare.
Just last week, two people were killed in separate elephant rampages. One incident occurred at a mosque in Palakkad, while another took place at a temple in Thrissur, where a trader was fatally attacked by an elephant.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The Kerala High Court had previously stated that the number of elephants allowed at festivals should depend on the space available. The court, in a suo motu proceeding concerning government inaction on animal rights, emphasized the need to enforce the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012, as well as the Supreme Court’s directives from the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre case.
ALSO READ: Viral Video: Elephant picks up man, knocks him on ground during Kerala festival
At the time, the High Court observed, “We do not believe that there is any essential religious practice of any religion that mandates the use of elephants in festivals. We do not, however, propose to say anything more at this stage since our focus now is merely to regulate the practice of parading elephants during festivals.”
Call for Stricter Regulations
The latest tragedy has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of elephant management rules. With multiple fatal incidents occurring in quick succession, authorities are under pressure to reevaluate the use of elephants in religious and cultural events. Animal rights activists have also reiterated their stance against using elephants in public gatherings, citing both safety and ethical concerns.
As Kerala’s festival season continues, all eyes are on the government’s next steps in addressing these recurring incidents and ensuring public safety.
