Overview
- Two separate attacks at Kerala temple festivals on Friday left a lorry driver and a mahout dead, according to police.
- At Kidangoor in Angamaly, the elephant killed driver Vishnu, seriously injured primary mahout Pradeep, smashed vehicles, and was tranquilised and restrained by the Forest Department after hours of effort.
- At Irinjalakuda’s Koodalmanikyam Temple, the elephant killed secondary mahout Sreekuttan and injured primary mahout Amal after it had shown aggression the previous night, police said.
- Police are recording statements and will examine whether lapses by the devaswom, the temple management body, contributed to the incidents.
- Festival activities at both sites were paused, intensifying debate over Kerala’s long‑standing practice of using captive elephants in religious processions.