Elephants Removed After Chaos at Rath Yatra

During the 2025 Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a male elephant, apparently agitated by loud music and crowd noise, broke free and charged into the crowd, causing panic and resulting in at least one or two injuries. Video footage showed festival-goers fleeing, with some trampled or caught under a collapsing railing. Authorities—including police, forest, and veterinary officials—responded swiftly, tranquilizing the male elephant and using female elephants to help herd him away. All three involved elephants were removed from the procession, which continued safely with the remaining animals. The incident highlighted the unpredictability of live animals at large events and the need for strict safety protocols. Despite the disruption, there were no fatalities and the centuries-old festival proceeded as scheduled.