Shivamogga’s Dasara procession was cut short on Wednesday after Somanna, a 36-year-old elephant carrying a 450-kilogram silver howdah, bolted through the crowded route, damaging the howdah, two cars and three motorcycles. No injuries were reported among the public, and forest department teams later tranquilised the animal and brought the situation under control.
The incident occurred during the Jambusavari procession near the Jain Parshwanath Temple on Kote Road, approximately one kilometre from the procession’s starting point. The event had begun at around 4.30pm near the Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple, close to the Shivappa Nayaka Palace area. Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa had flagged off the procession.
Somanna was carrying the howdah containing an idol of Chamundeshwari. The elephant was accompanied by Sagara and Bahaddur, which were walking as support animals. According to the report, the crowd, musical performances and firecracker sounds caused Somanna to panic. It suddenly changed direction and began running back along the route. Bahaddur also followed it briefly.
Mahouts and attendants immediately attempted to calm the elephants. Bahaddur was brought under control quickly, but Somanna continued to resist efforts to restrain it. The incident created an atmosphere of panic among people gathered for the procession. Somanna eventually entered the compound of the Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple and stopped there. The elephant did not attack anyone inside the premises.
Forest department personnel spent considerable time trying to control the animal. A veterinary team led by doctors Anand and Muralimanohar administered a tranquiliser, after which Somanna was rendered unconscious. The damaged silver howdah fell to the ground during the animal’s sudden movement.
The decision to use Somanna for this year’s procession had been taken only on Tuesday evening, according to the report. Sagara, which had carried the howdah in Shivamogga Dasara processions for several years, had been trained for the role again this year but developed leg pain. Another regular participant, Bალanna, had suffered an eye injury. Forest department officials therefore brought Somanna from the Sakrebailu Elephant Camp for its first Dasara procession.
District Commissioner Prabhuling Kavalikatti said immediate measures were taken after the elephants became frightened along the procession route. He said forest department staff acted as a precaution to prevent any untoward incident and protect the public. The elephants will be sent back to their original location at the Sakrebailu camp after they have fully recovered, he said.
