SREEKARYAM: Five people, including women and children, were injured when an elephant ran amok during a festival procession at the Karumbukonam Devi temple here.

CPM Aniyoor branch secretary Achu was hurled by the elephant. Krishnavardhan (12) from Sreekariyam, Soni (28) from Chembazhanthy, Sandhya (34) from Powdikonam and Kesiya (19) from Sreekariyam are the other injured. All five were admitted to the Medical College Hospital. The procession, which started from Kariyam Puliyarakonam Devi temple, reached the Chekalamukku junction around 10.30 pm when the elephant ran amok.

An elephant named Kanjirakattu Sekharan died went berserk after someone grabbed its tail during the procession. Two of the four people on the elephant slipped and fell on the road. The elephant also broke a wall in fit of rage. Elephant's mahout immediately chained the elephant, after it ran a short distance.

Later, the Sreekaryam police gave permission to the organizers to proceed with the procession by avoiding percussion ensemble. A large number of people came to see the procession including forty floats, elephants, and other art forms. A huge traffic jam was experienced in the area as the procession approached the main road. Ambulances struggled to reach the spot after the people got injured.