Thiruchendur temple elephant kills mahout, relative during feeding session

A temple elephant at the Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tamil Nadu's Thiruchendur district suddenly became agitated and fatally attacked its mahout and his relative while they were feeding it.

In Short

• A temple elephant fatally attacked its mahout and his relative in Tiruchendur
• The two men were feeding the elephant when it suddenly became agitated
• Both were taken to the hospital but died from their injuries

A 25-year-old temple elephant, Deivanai, killed its mahout and his relative at Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchendur on Sunday.

The elephant, known for its role in temple rituals and festivals, was in its shed when the incident occurred around 3.30 pm. Mahout Udhaya Kumar and his relative Sisubalan were feeding the elephant fruits when it reportedly became agitated and attacked them.

Both men sustained critical injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.

Following the incident, the Tiruchendur police arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation. Temple administrators also visited the location to assess the situation and determine further steps.

Deivanai, an integral part of the Thiruchendur Murugan Temple, had been maintained at the temple for years and was adorned with ornaments during festivals. The temple, one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan, attracts devotees from across the country.

This is not the first such incident involving temple elephants. In April this year, a 26-year-old mahout named Aravind, from Puthuppally, lost his life after being crushed by an elephant named Kunjulakshmi during a ceremony at the TV Puram Sreerama Swami Temple in Kerala's Vaikom. Despite immediate medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries.