
Aruvippuram (Thiruvananthapuram): An aggressive elephant threw its mahout away in a fit of rage resulting in his death. The second mahout identified as Kollam native Vishnu (21) died in the attack by the elephant.
The incident took place on Saturday evening at Ayayil Kariyilakulangara temple. The elephant named Gowrinandan, owned by the local festival committee, turned aggressive when he was being to the temple.
A few youngsters had tried to take picture of the elephant using mobile phone. The jumbo turned to the back amid this and Vishnu poked him using a stick. Instantly, the elephant caught him with its trunk and hurled him away.
The enraged elephant also damaged a scooter that was brought to the temple for Pooja. Then it ran to a compound near the temple.
Later, the elephant was tamed after hours of long effort by throwing a rope around it from a compound 800 metres away from the temple. Body of the deceased mahout has been kept in the mortuary of Neyyattinkara taluk hospital.