Deaths of people from elephant attacks are not uncommon in India. At least 1,601 people died between 2020 and 2023 in the so-called ‘human-elephant conflict’.
At least 23 people were injured during a festival in southern India after one of the elephants taking part in the celebration charged into the crowd, leading to scenes of chaos, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place last night during the annual Puthiyangadi festival in the southern state of Kerala, police inspector K.J. Jinesh, in charge of the police station in the town of Tirur, where the celebrations were taking place, told EFE.
At least 1,600 people have been killed by elephant attacks
The use of elephants in festivals is common in India and other South Asian countries, such as Sri Lanka, as they hold great symbolism for Hinduism. India has the largest population of Asian elephants in the world, with an estimated 30,000 wild specimens in 2017, according to the latest figures published by the Ministry of Environment. In addition, there are fourteen reserves for these animals.