Elephant Incident at Kerala Temple Leaves Man Seriously Injured, Requires Surgery

Kerala Temple Festival Incident: Elephant Attacks 26-Year-Old Man

Incident Details

On February 26, 2026, a 26-year-old man, Thuranellur Manayil Vivek, sustained serious injuries after being thrown by a captive elephant during the Valiyavilakku festival at the Annamanada Mahadeva Temple in Kerala's Thrissur district.

Event Description

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The incident occurred when Vivek, who was holding the 'kolam' idol, was approached by the elephant, Akkikkavu Karthikeyan, which suddenly gripped his legs with its trunk and threw him aside. The elephant was being restrained with chains on its legs at the time of the incident.

Medical Update

Vivek was admitted to Apollo Adlux Hospital in Angamaly, where surgery was scheduled to address his facial injuries. His condition is reportedly stable, and hospital authorities have assured that there is no cause for concern.

Rituals Suspended, Authorities Respond

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Following the attack, temple authorities halted the remaining rituals as a precaution, and police officers were deployed to manage the crowd and restore order. An elephant response squad was also deployed to assess the animal's condition and behavior.

Allegations Over Elephant Welfare

Animal welfare advocates have criticized the treatment of the elephants involved in the festival, alleging that they were subjected to mistreatment by handlers, inadequate food and sleep, and excessive work without proper health examinations. VK Venkitachalam, secretary of the Heritage Animal Task Force (HATF), has submitted complaints to the chief wildlife warden and the forest department's intelligence wing, seeking an investigation and the registration of a criminal case against the festival committee, the mahouts, and the elephant's owner.