Man, 40, Killed by Elephant That Escaped Chains and Went on Car-Tossing Rampage

A peaceful temple festival turned into a scene of pure terror after a massive elephant broke free, went berserk—and killed a man in a shocking attack that left witnesses frozen in fear.

The nightmare unfolded Friday morning at the Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple, where crowds had gathered for blessings. Instead, they watched helplessly as a powerful elephant suddenly snapped its chains and unleashed chaos.

The victim, identified as 40-year-old Vishnu, had just helped transport the animal to the temple. But around 9:15 a.m., everything spiraled out of control.

According to witnesses, the elephant became aggressive without warning. In a horrifying moment, it reportedly wrapped its trunk around Vishnu, lifted him off the ground, then slammed him down before trampling and fatally goring him.

Panic spread instantly.

Terrified onlookers scrambled for safety as the out-of-control animal charged through the area—flipping scooters, smashing into homes, and even tossing cars like toys. Video clips circulating online show the elephant ramming its tusks into vehicles and ripping trees from the ground as people watched from a distance, powerless to stop it.

The animal didn’t stop there.

Its primary caretaker, Pradeep, was also attacked and badly injured before being rushed to a hospital. Authorities say the elephant wandered the temple grounds for hours, leaving a trail of destruction behind.

It took a specialized response team nearly four hours to finally bring the situation under control and tranquilize the animal.

But the horror wasn’t over.

Just hours later, tragedy struck again at the Koodalmanikyam Temple, where another elephant—reportedly restless the night before—broke free and turned violent.

Caretaker Sreekuttan was trampled during the attack and later died from his injuries. A second handler, Amal, survived but remains hospitalized.

The back-to-back incidents have left the community shaken and raised serious questions about safety at temple festivals involving elephants—events that have long been part of local tradition but can quickly turn deadly when things go wrong.

For those who witnessed Friday’s chaos, it’s a day they won’t soon forget—and a chilling reminder of just how unpredictable and dangerous these powerful animals can be.