Mysore: In an untoward incident tension prevailed in parts of Saraswathipuram near the Fire Brigade and TTL College, as two elephant calves of Suttur Mutt, ran amok on the road causing panic among motorists and pedestrians

On Wednesday October 29 at about 7 am, the two elephants were on their routine walk, when they suddenly started running creating a threat to the localities, in turn people as well ran helter-skelter for safety.

According to the caretakers, the calves were frightened by the shrill horns and barking of dogs.

It is said, the two baby elephants, three-year-old Champa and four-year-old Drona of Suttur Mutt, were being taken to SJCE Grounds for a walk by their mahouts and kavadis led by mahout Nayaz.

They were being taken for walks daily around the Mutt and today they were being taken to SJCE grounds via Chamaraja Double Road, Ramaswamy Circle and Maharaja’s Grounds.

When the elephants passed through the under-bridge and reached the Circle near Saraswathipuram Fire Brigade, an autorickshaw is said to have sounded a shrill horn which made the dogs sleeping on the road to bark all of a sudden.

Frightened by the shrill horn and the barking, the calves ran amok with Champa running towards TTL College and Drona running into Saraswathipuram Fire Brigade.

The people on the road were also panicked when they saw the elephant calves running.

While the mahout of Champa ran behind and tied it to the gate of TTL College, the mahout of Drona tied him to a coconut tree in the Fire Brigade premises.

Meanwhile, curious onlookers who had gathered in large number began clicking photographs of Champa which was tied to the gate which further irked Champa because of the lights and began tugging the gate to free herself.

The mahout, who noticed Champa getting restless, lured her into the Fire Brigade premises and tied her near Drona.

RFO H.K. Puttaraju and staff rushed on the spot, requested the public not to take photographs as it would distract them besides suggesting the mahouts to take back the calves to the Mutt later in the evening when the density of traffic was low.

Saraswathipuram Police who also arrived to the spot managed to keep the crowd at bay.

Meanwhile, officials of the Mutt assured the College authorities and Fire Brigade that they would take up the repair of damages caused by calves.