Tusker Pallatt Brahmadathan Dies After Lightning Strike in Kerala's Kottayam
· India · The Hindu, Indian Express, NDTV
Pallatt Brahmadathan, a 65-year-old tusker known for participating in temple festivals across Kerala, died after being struck by lightning on Sunday evening. The incident occurred around 5.30 p.m. amid a heavy thunderstorm near Erattupetta in Kottayam district. The nearly 10-foot-tall elephant was tethered near the residence of his owner, Kerala Festival Coordination Committee president Rajesh Pallatt, at Melampara while resting after a bout of musth. Brahmadathan originally came from Bihar and gained popularity among elephant lovers for carrying the idol of the main deity during the Thrissur Pooram. Numerous people gathered at the owner's home following the news to pay their final respects to the animal.
Why it matters
The death of Pallatt Brahmadathan deprives Kerala's temple festival circuit of a prominent tusker widely celebrated by elephant enthusiasts for his gentle temperament.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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