Shivamogga Dasara’s procession was cut short on Wednesday after Somanna, a 36-year-old elephant carrying a 450-kilogram silver ambari for the first time, panicked amid crowds, musical performances and firecrackers and ran off the route, damaging the ambari, two cars and three motorcycles.
The incident occurred near the Jain Parshwanath temple on Kote Road, about one kilometre from the procession’s starting point. The Jamboo Savari had begun at around 4.30pm in front of the Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple near Shivappa Nayaka Palace, where legislator S.N. Channabasappa formally launched the procession.
Somanna was carrying the idol of Chamundeshwari, while the elephants Sagara and Bahadur accompanied it. As the procession moved through the city, Somanna reportedly became frightened by the large gathering, loud musical instruments and firecracker sounds. It suddenly changed direction and began running back. Bahadur, a kumki elephant used to assist in controlling other elephants, followed it.
Mahouts, elephant handlers and forest department personnel immediately tried to calm the animals. Bahadur was brought under control quickly, but Somanna continued to remain unmanageable for some time, creating panic among people gathered along the route. The elephant eventually entered the premises of the Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple and stopped there. No attack on people was reported.
Forest department personnel worked to control Somanna, after which a veterinary team led by doctors Anand and Muralimanohar administered a tranquilliser. The elephant was sedated as officials brought the situation under control. The silver ambari fell to the ground during the episode and was damaged, while two cars and three motorcycles were also reported to have sustained damage.
Somanna had been brought from the Sakrebailu elephant camp after forest department officials decided on Tuesday evening that it would carry the ambari. Sagara, which had carried the ambari during Shivamogga Dasara for several years, had been trained for this year’s procession but developed leg pain. Another elephant, Balanna, could not participate because of an eye injury.
Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti said immediate steps were taken to control the elephants after they ran in fear along the procession route. He said forest department staff at the site took precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident and that the elephants would be sent back to the Sakrebailu camp after they had fully recovered.
