A tragic incident occurred at the Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tamil Nadu's Thiruchendur district on Sunday when a temple elephant named Deivanai suddenly became agitated and fatally attacked its mahout, Udhaya Kumar, and his relative, Sisubalan. The 25-year-old elephant, known for its role in temple rituals and festivals, was in its shed when the incident took place around 3:30 pm. The two men were feeding the elephant fruits when it unexpectedly turned violent, attacking them both.
The victims sustained critical injuries and were quickly rushed to a nearby hospital, where they later succumbed to their wounds. Following the attack, the Tiruchendur police arrived to investigate, while temple authorities also visited the scene to assess the situation and decide on further actions.
Deivanai had been an integral part of the temple for years, often adorned with ornaments during festivals. The Subramanya Swamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, is one of the six abodes of the deity and attracts a large number of devotees.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern involving temple elephants. Earlier this year, in April, a similar tragedy occurred at the TV Puram Sreerama Swami Temple in Kerala's Vaikom. A 26-year-old mahout, Aravind, was killed after being crushed by an elephant named Kunjulakshmi during a temple ceremony. Despite prompt medical attention, Aravind did not survive.
