A temple mahout who was critically injured after being attacked by an elephant at the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple in Tiruchanur has died during treatment, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Chandra Sekhar Reddy, 46, died at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) hospital in Tirupati late on Wednesday, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. He had been admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering severe injuries in the attack.
The incident took place on October 4 near the Ratha Mandapam, when Srinidhi, the temple elephant, was being taken back to the goshala after the Unjala Seva. The elephant knocked Reddy down and stepped on him, causing injuries that required hospitalisation.
Reddy had served as the mahout of the temple elephant for several years on a contractual basis. His death brings into focus the risks faced by workers responsible for handling animals in crowded religious and public settings, where movement between ritual areas, holding facilities and service zones can intersect with the presence of devotees and staff.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) handed over an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to Reddy’s family and assured them that a family member would be offered a job in TTD. The assistance was announced after his condition deteriorated and he died while undergoing treatment.
Tiruchanur police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Reddy’s wife, Jyothi. Investigators are collecting details to establish the circumstances that led to the attack, including the events surrounding the elephant’s movement from the temple premises to the goshala.
The police investigation is expected to determine the sequence of events at the Ratha Mandapam and examine the circumstances under which the attack occurred. No further findings were provided in the report.
