Varanasi: Panic gripped Panchvati Ramlila ground in the Ramnagar area on Sunday after an elephant brought from Azamgarh for the locality’s famed Ramlila turned violent and attacked its mahout.
As a precaution, security personnel barricaded the ground and restricted movement within nearly a 2-km radius. The team departed around 1 pm, carrying essential medicines, rescue equipment and a tranquilliser gun to safely bring the animal under control. The incident occurred during preparations linked to the world-renowned Ramnagar Ramlila. The elephant had been specially brought to take part in the traditional procession in which the son of the head of Kashi’s erstwhile royal family, Anant Narayan Singh, rides to witness the Ramlila rituals as per the tradition of the family. Locals informed police that the elephant abruptly became uncontrollable and lifted its mahout with its trunk before slamming him to the ground several times. Police teams reached Panchvati Maidan soon after receiving information about the incident. Authorities also halted public access to nearby routes to prevent further danger and manage the crowd. No official statement was issued on what caused the animal’s aggression.
Rescue team from Gorakhpur zoo to tame jumbo Gorakhpur: A four-member team of experts from Gorakhpur Zoo left for Varanasi on Sunday to help capture the elephant that went on the rampage at Ramnagar.
The team was dispatched under the supervision of Gorakhpur Zoo chief medical officer Yogesh Pratap Singh, who said the experts were in constant contact with him. He expressed hope that the rescue operation would be completed soon after the team reached the spot.