Home / Disasters and Accidents / Tusker Panic Disrupts Shivamogga Dasara, Gold Bangles Missing
Tusker Panic Disrupts Shivamogga Dasara, Gold Bangles Missing
22 Oct
Summary
- Elephant bolted due to crowds and noise, halting the procession.
- Six gold bangles from the idol went missing during the incident.
- Minister mandates 20-30 days' training for elephants next year.
The Shivamogga Dasara procession was disrupted on Wednesday after a tusker named Somanna, carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, panicked due to crowd noise and bolted. The elephant, a 35-year-old from Sakrebailu elephant camp, was a last-minute replacement and this was its first time carrying the silver howdah.
During the ensuing chaos, six of the idol's eight gold bangles were lost, and the silver ambari was damaged. The elephant was eventually sedated by veterinary officers and brought under control with the assistance of other elephants. Police and forest officials are investigating the incident.
Following the disruption, the forest minister has mandated 20-30 days of compulsory training for all elephants intended for next year's procession. He is reviewing safety measures and the incident's trigger. The nine-day festivities concluded with Banni Pooja and the safe transport of the idol.
