Kochi, February 8 An elephant went out of control at the Tripunithura Poornathrayeesa Temple here on Sunday, injuring its mahout, police said.
According to police, the tusker, Chamappuzha Unnikrishnan, who was participating in the Athazha Seeveli ritual, became aggressive around 8:30 pm.
The injured mahout was immediately taken to a hospital, police said.
After becoming aggressive, the elephant moved towards the temple office and stood there.
Although devotees panicked following the incident, temple authorities brought the situation under control and safely evacuated the crowd, police said.
Later, other mahouts and temple authorities managed to restrain and lock the elephant.
The tusker had been brought to the temple as part of a festival scheduled to begin on Monday, officials added.