Pilgrims injured as elephant runs amok in Tirumala

Seven pilgrims attending the Brahmotsavams in Tirumala were injured in a stampede after a temple elephant ran amok just before the Unjal Seva around 9.20 p.m. on Monday. The temple elephant Vaishnavi was leading the "Aswa Vahanam" procession on the penultimate day of the on going annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara.

As Vaishnavi ran amok and broke the barricades, the pilgrims ran helter-skelter and in the resultant stampede seven were injured. The baby elephant ran amok due to the beating of drums. Those injured in the stampede were rushed to TTD run Aswini Hospital for medical care.

The mahout immediately rushed and took control of Vaishnavi and Brahmostavams attended by a large number of people continued peacefully.