An elephant named Srinidhi at Sri Padmavati Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanur seriously injured its caretaker, Chandrasekhar, on Sunday evening. The caretaker was shifted to SVIMS, Tirupati, for treatment after the elephant turned aggressive.
According to Telangana Today, the elephant, Srinidhi, and another elephant, Avanija, were brought from the temple cowshed to the main entrance through Gate No. 3. This was a routine, as they had been the previous day.
After the conclusion of the Oonjal Seva, the elephants were being taken back to the cowshed when Srinidhi reportedly tried to attack a devotee walking ahead of it near the Ratham Mandapam.
When caretaker Chandrasekhar attempted to control the elephant, Srinidhi pushed him to the ground, stepped on his chest, and attacked him, causing serious injuries.
This incident has caused concern within the temple premises. Such occurrences in areas where temple elephants interact closely with the public raise safety concerns.
Devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana frequently visit this temple. This incident may impact the management of temple elephants and safety protocols, highlighting the need to prioritize the safety of devotees.