Elephant turns violent at Thrissur pooram

THRISSUR: An elephant turned violent at the venue of the pooram festival here on Friday creating some anxious moments for the hundreds who had gathered to witness the festivities.

According to initial reports, no one suffered any serious injury in the melee.

People ran helter-skelter as one of the paraded elephants loosened its iron shackle on the hind leg and began to move in a threatening manner.

The elephant Unnikrishnan was contained and chained after a while, temple sources said.

The incident happened when the famous 'ilanjithara melam' (group percussion orchestra) was in progress at the Thekkinkad maidan, venue of the festival.

After a brief disruption, the festival resumed with the 'melam' artists reassembling at the site.

The famous 'Kudamattam' performance, the glittering display of colourful umbrellas in quick succession, also began as onlookers who got scattered in the melee reconverged at the maidan.