Sivaganga (Tamil Nadu), Sep 13 (UNI) An adult elephant of historic Arulmigu Shanmuganatha Peruman Temple at Kundrakudi near Karaikudi in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu died late on Thursday night after it sustained serious burn injuries in a fire accident.
Temple officials said here on Friday that the cow elephant, Subbulakshmi, was reared inside a tin sheet-cum-thatched roof shed at the bottom of the hillock. The elephant was tied with an iron chain.
The elephant suffered grievous burn injuries on its trunk, body, and legs after a fire broke out in the thatched roof on Wednesday night.
The elephant broke the chain and came out of the shed in a bid to save itself from the blaze.
The locals extinguished the fire and alerted the temple officials.
The elephant sustained severe burns on its trunk, body, legs, and tail in the fire accident.
Despite intense treatment provided by the veterinary doctors from the State Animal Husbandry Department, Subbulakshmi succumbed to injuries.
It was gifted to the temple over three decades ago by a devotee.
Hundreds of people have been paying tearful homage to their beloved elephant since this morning. The temple priests offered special prayers to the elephant.
Sri Ponnambala Adigalar, pontiff of Kundrakudi Adheenam (Mutt), paid his homage.
Meanwhile, a probe is underway by Kundrakudi police to ascertain the cause of the fire.
UNI GSM AKS