An
elephant prepared for the final Randoli Perahera at the Ratnapura Saman
Devalaya went on a rampage on Friday night causing a stampede among the
spectators.The people along the side of the road panicked as the elephant
entered the main road where the perahera was to parade.
A
60-year-old woman who was among the crowd, a resident of Udaniriella in
Ratnapura was admitted to the hospital as a result of the shock. She later
succumbed.
Hospital
sources revealed that close to 100 people were admitted to hospital as a result
of injuries sustained during the stampede. Eleven individuals continue to
receive in-house treatment.
Our
correspondent stated that it took around 45 minutes to control the tusker.
Basnayake
Nilame, Kamal Ratwatte stated that it was informed that the angered elephant
will not be allowed to enter the streets. But when the elephant was lined up,
it had panicked and ran amok and it damaged two three-wheelers and moved in to
a rubber plantation. The elephant had thereafter been calmed by the mahouts, veterinarians
and assistants.