Child killed as temple elephants run amok in Irinjalakuda

Sunday, May 13, 2012: A 2-year-old child was killed and 10 injured when three elephants of the Koodalmanickam temple ran amok during the `arattu’ rituals on Sunday morning.
Ten persons, including the mahout, were injured in the panic that followed. The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment. The elephants were brought under control by the mahouts.
Elephants Kalamuthan and Kannan first ran amok when the ritual was progressing and the `arattu’ was taken out of the temple. Seeing the chaos, Cherupalassery Parameswaran and Ayyappan also ran amok. Many sustained injuries when they ran helter skelter during the commotion.
First aid was given to the injured at the Iranjalakuda Cooperative hospital and some were taken to the Thrissur hospitals too. The arattu was to take place in the afternoon at 1 pm.