The 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad witnessed a momentary scare on Friday when a male elephant, reportedly startled by loud DJ music and whistles, ran amok near Desai ni Pol in the Khadia area.
The sudden commotion led to panic among devotees, with two people injured while attempting to flee the scene, officials confirmed.
According to Dr. R.K. Sahu, veterinary advisor at Kankaria Zoo and part of the animal treatment team, the lone male elephant in the procession appeared agitated by the excessive noise and bolted from its designated path. While the elephant did not directly harm anyone, it caused significant disruption. Authorities quickly brought the animal under control and isolated it alongside two female elephants for safety.
The annual Rath Yatra, which began at 7 AM from the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, draws lakhs of devotees and includes a 16-kilometer route featuring 18 elephants, 101 decorated trucks, 30 akhadas, bhajan groups, and musical bands. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the traditional Pahind Vidhi (symbolic road-cleaning ritual), and Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered Mangala Aarti at 4 AM.
The incident occurred around 10:15 AM, temporarily halting the procession. As a precaution, the male elephant was removed from further participation, and the yatra resumed with 14 elephants continuing the route under strict supervision.
Officials confirmed that robust security arrangements and medical support were in place to manage such emergencies, ensuring the procession could proceed without further incident.
