Mahout injured by jumbo dies at Kottayam Medical College Hospital

ALAPPUZHA: A mahout, who was injured by a tusker at Valamangalam near Thuravoor, died at Kottayam Medical College Hospital on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Kadali Babu, 48, Kanakkary grama panchayat, Ettumanoor, Kottayam.  With this incident, the total number of people killed by captive elephants in Kerala this year has gone up to 12.  While 11 manhouts were killed by ten elephants, a woman devotee was killed by another at Sabarimala temple this year.

The mahout Babu died at Kottayam Medical College in early morning. He was admitted on October 31 after the tusker named Mullackal Balakrishnan assaulted him.  The elephant was chained in a private property at Valamangalam. Babu, the second mahout, was attacked when he came in front of the elephant. He suffered serious injuries. Balakrishnan is owned by Mullackal Rajarajeswari temple of Travancore Devaswom Board.

“Mullackal Balakris-hnan have a track record of killing three mahouts and one woman devotee after it was donated to Mullackal Temple. This elephant was first donated to Paramekkavu temple in Thrissur. But during 1979, this pachyderm ran amok during  'Parayezhunnallippu' for Thrissur Pooram festival near Thiruvambadi Temple and destroyed house property.  Later, the Paramekkavu Devaswom sold this elephant to another person. After that this elephant was donated to Mullackal temple, '' said V.K. Venkitachalam, secretary of Heritage Animal Task Force. Kutiyathodu sub-inspector Joy C.A. said that they have registered case against the owner and the first mahout of the elephant in connection with the incident.