Mysuru: Dasara elephant Arjuna to be protected'

Mysuru: Dasara elephant, Arjuna, who has been chosen to carry the golden howdah during Friday's jumbo savari, is  fast approaching the age of retirement according to the guidelines for the caring of privately owned elephants. 

Arjuna, at 58, is just two years away from 60 and his caretakers are worried that he could be placed under a great deal of stress while carrying a hefty load on his back if the people along the route of the procession  gather around him for taking selfies. They believe a distance of 10 meters is essential to help them deal with the crowd.  "If the howdah elephant halts frequently    it will be under great stress,"  the caretakers caution.  

Agreeing, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Siddaramappa Chalkapure said,  "We plan to deploy  personnel from the Yelawala forest training school to regulate the crowds and ensure  a distance of 10-meters." 

 Mysuru: Infosys Foundation chairperson Dr Sudha Murty handed over Rs 10 lakh each to the six families of deceased soldiers from Mysuru and Hassan districts here  on Monday evening.

Dr Sudha told the families, "It is our duty to support the families of deceased soldiers. I know we cannot compensate the loss completely. Infosys Foundation is with you, the state and Central governments too are with you."  

She handed over cheques to two families from Mysuru district  including Ms Sarvamangala, mother of sepoy late Mahesh P.N. from HD Kote who had died in Operation Meghadooth on  February 10, 2016 and Rekha, wife of late sepoy Ramesh B from Ilwala who became a victim in a terrorist operation.