Viral video | Elephant goes berserk during Puthiyangadi festival in Kerala, leaves 17 people wounded

A tragic incident occurred during the annual Puthiyangadi festival at Tirur in Malappuram district of Kerala on Wednesday when an elephant went berserk. More than 17 people have been injured in the incident. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

One of the injured is said to be in critical condition and receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kottakkal, according to media reports.

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Hundreds of people were present at the festival when the incident happened.

At least five elephants were adorned with golden plates at the festival as the people tried to film them.

Suddenly, one of the elephants got agitated and charged into the crowd.

In the video, the elephant, named Pakkathu Sreekuttan, is seen lifting a man with his trunk and swinging him in the air before throwing him.

According to a report by The Hindu, the elephants were positioned in the midst of a large crowd that gathered to witness the finale of the four-day ‘nercha’ at BP Angadi at Tirur. People ran helter-skelter, causing a stampede-like situation.

Elephant stuck while crossing rail fence rescued

In another incident, an elephant, which was stuck while crossing a rail fence in the Veeranahosahalli range of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, was rescued on Sunday.

Forest officials deployed earth-moving equipment to demolish one of the cement beam pillar barriers to which the rail fence was wedged. After the elephant was freed, it made its way into the forest, officials said.

On learning that the elephant was in a predicament, the forest team rushed to the spot where the tusker was trapped between pillar barriers and was unable to lift its hind legs over the rail fence, they said.

According to forest officials, the radio-collared tusker was around 30 years old, and its movement was being tracked.

The rail fences are installed as a measure to prevent elephants from crossing into villages bordering forest areas.