What began as a traditional temple procession quickly turned into a moment of terror when a decorated elephant suddenly became aggressive and attacked a priest during a religious ceremony. The incident took place on Thursday at the Annamanada Mahadeva Temple, leaving one priest seriously injured and sparking fresh debate over the safety of using elephants in crowded temple festivals.
A video of the incident has since circulated widely on social media, showing the frightening moments when the animal lost control.
What Happened at Annamanada Mahadeva Temple?
The elephant had been brought to the temple premises as part of a ceremonial procession. It was decorated and positioned for the ritual placement of the temple deity’s idol. As preparations were underway, the mahout attempted to assist a priest in climbing onto the elephant.
At that moment, the animal suddenly became agitated. Instead of remaining calm, the elephant abruptly lifted another priest who was standing nearby and holding the idol. Using its trunk, the elephant hurled the priest forcefully to the ground.
The sudden aggression caused panic among devotees gathered at the temple, with several people scrambling to move away from the animal.
Priest Suffers Serious Injuries, Rushed to Hospital
The priest who was thrown to the ground sustained serious injuries in the attack. Temple authorities and bystanders immediately intervened, and the mahout managed to regain control of the elephant shortly afterward, preventing further injuries.
The injured priest was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remains under medical treatment. Doctors are monitoring his condition closely.
Temple officials have not yet disclosed whether the elephant had shown signs of distress earlier in the day.
Why Are Temple Elephants Considered a Safety Risk?
The incident has once again highlighted long-standing concerns about the use of elephants during temple festivals, especially in crowded spaces with loud music, large gatherings, and close human interaction.
Animal welfare experts have repeatedly warned that elephants can become stressed due to noise, heat, and confinement. When overwhelmed, even trained elephants can behave unpredictably, posing a serious threat to handlers, priests, and devotees.
Calls for stricter safety protocols and limits on elephant participation in festivals have grown louder following similar incidents in recent years.
Another Elephant Tragedy Reported in Arunachal Pradesh
The temple incident comes days after a separate and deadly encounter involving an elephant in Arunachal Pradesh. On February 22, an assistant sub-inspector of the Arunachal Pradesh Police was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Lohit district.
The victim, ASI Martin Lego (40) from Sunpura police station, had gone to the Lohit riverbank with two friends. While his companions managed to escape, Lego was caught by the elephant and killed on the spot.
Authorities Issue Advisory After Fatal Elephant Attack
Following the Arunachal Pradesh incident, Lohit Superintendent of Police Thutan Jamba said he had spoken to the district administration to issue an advisory. Authorities urged villagers to avoid forested and riverine areas as a precautionary measure.
The forest department also announced that efforts would be made to locate and capture the elephant involved. Officials suspect the animal may have been injured, which could have triggered its aggressive behaviour.
