At least 17 people sustained injuries after an elephant lost its cool during an annual festival in Kerala&rsquo;s Malappuram district on Tuesday night. &nbsp;
Hundreds of people had gathered at Tirur to participate in the Puthiyangadi festival. Visuals show at least five elephants adorned with golden plates at the festival as people in the crowd tried to film them. Suddenly, one of the elephants can be seen getting agitated and charging into the crowd as the mahout struggles to control it.
Named Pakkathu Sreekuttan, the elephant proceeds to lift a man and swing him in the air before flinging him away.
According to reports, the man&rsquo;s condition is critical and he is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kotakkal. Other people also sustained injuries in the stampede-like situation after the elephant charged. 
The elephant was brought under control two hours after the incident.

The elephant (centre) which charged into the crowd

Many had gathered at Puthiyangadi festival at Tirur in Kerala’s Malappuram dist

Elephant Flings Man in Air at Kerala Fest

Many had gathered at Puthiyangadi festival at Tirur in Kerala’s Malappuram dist

January 8, 2025 | 16:33 IST