KOZHIKODE: The forest department will impose strict controls to prevent accidents and deaths due to elephants during temple processions. For this, taluk-level committees comprising forest, police, and fire officials will be formed. The temple committees should make arrangements for the procession as per the guidelines given by the committee members after visiting the temple and its surroundings.

The controls are being tightened in the wake of the accident that occurred at the Koyilandy Manakulangara temple in Kozhikode, in which three people died. Forest Conservator (Social Forestry) R. Keerthi submitted the recommendation in this regard to the Forest Minister. The District Monitoring Committee, chaired by the District Collector, decided to form taluk-level sub-committees with the Kozhikode Forest Range Officer as the nodal officer. The committee members will inspect the temple and surroundings where permission for the elephant procession has been given. The festival committees should provide vehicle facilities for the officials.

After the elephant is set off, a distance of three meters between the elephants should be strictly maintained during the elephant procession. No type of firecracker should be burst during the elephant procession. They should be burst only after chaining the elephant. The committee should also ensure the ownership of the elephants, their background including whether they had an aggressive episode, the elephant data book, and the proper registration of the temples in the district monitoring committees. To determine the possibility of a musth, the veterinary officer should conduct a blood test of the elephants before issuing a fitness certificate. The Animal Husbandry Department can be tasked with preparing the procedure for this.

After examining the case related to the elephant procession, committees will be formed across the state. - A.K. Saseendran, Forest Minister