A captive elephant that run amok at Kallely, near Konni, damaged a few vehicles parked on the wayside early on Thursday. The elephant, Venmony Neelakantan, was brought to Konni for the annual festival at the Kallely Kavu shrine.
The animal was tethered to a tree in a plot near Kallely Kavu after the ceremonial procession at the shrine on Wednesday night.
The animal turned violent and broke the steel chain with which it was tethered to the tree. It destroyed a few cars and motorbikes parked on the wayside.
According to Ravi, a car owner, Venmony Neelakantan had turned violent and attacked vehicles at Pandalam a few months ago. The elephant had been barred from festival processions since then, Mr. Ravi said. The animal left the villagers panicky for about two-and-half hours. It was tethered with the help of the Forest Department, mahouts, and villagers by 3 a.m.