Suneesh, 27, a mahout hailing from Thevara, was killed late on Tuesday evening by the elephant that was hired for the Thalappoli procession at a temple in Vathuruthy.
The incident occurred near the Subramanya Temple at Mattammel in Thevara, said the police. The elephant was hired for the festivities at the Thevara temple and was harnessed in an open area near the Subramanya temple when the incident took place.
According to reports, Suneesh had taken the elephant to water and was returning when the elephant turned violent. People who had gathered to watch the elephant ran for safety after it turned violent and took on the mahout, who was reportedly slammed against a compound wall.
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The elephant soon ran into a nearby compound and destroyed a part of a house that stood in the compound, the police said.