An elephant lifted its handler by its trunk and hurled him to the ground after going on a rampage as stunned locals prepared for a religious festival.
The animal also uprooted electricity poles, sparking panic and forcing authorities to cut power to the surrounding area.
The incident happened at around 10.30am on Sunday (18 October) in Ramnagar, a town on the eastern bank of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India.
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The elephant had been brought from a nearby town to take part in a 31-day open-air theatrical festival, which sees attendees recreate a sacred Hindu epic.
After being brought to the site, the creature suddenly became uncontrollable while its handler, known as a mahout, was feeding it.
Police said the elephant attacked the man, identified as Chaplu, before throwing him to the ground.
He was taken to hospital for treatment, with reports differing over the severity of his injuries.
Around 200 people reportedly joined efforts to restrain the animal, while police barricaded the area and restricted access to nearby roads.
Other handlers tried to calm the elephant by offering it sugarcane, but their attempts failed, as reported by Need To Know.
A four-member team of experts from Gorakhpur Zoo was also dispatched with rescue equipment, medicines and a tranquilliser gun to help bring the animal under control.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Pratap Singh said forest department officials were working to manage the situation.
The Ramnagar Ramlila festival is a centuries-old tradition in which episodes from the Hindu epic Ramayana are performed.
Elephants play a role in the festivities, including a traditional procession involving the local royal family’s descendants.
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