Elephant kills mahout

A captive elephant gored to death its 50-year old mahout to death in Puthur in the district today, police said.

The jumbo, which had been brought to participate in the 'anayootu' (feeding of elephants) festival at Thirupuraikkal Bhagavathy Temple here, killed its second mahout Ramankutty (50).

The incident happened when Raman went to feed the elephant which was kept chained in a nearby compound.

The elephant, which had shown uneasiness some time before, became violent suddenly and gored him with its tusks.

Ramankutty died on the spot, police added.