Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Mahout Dies After Temple Elephant Attack in Tiruchanur
Chandra Sekhar Reddy cared for and guided an elephant at a temple.
On October 4, the elephant, named Srinidhi, attacked him near the temple’s Ratha Mandapam.
The elephant knocked him down and stepped on him as it was being taken back to its shelter after a religious event.
Reddy was taken to a hospital in Tirupati and treated in intensive care.
He died late Wednesday after his condition worsened.
The temple organization gave his family ₹5 lakh and promised a job for one family member.
Police are investigating what led to the attack.
Chandra Sekhar Reddy, 46, died late Wednesday at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati.
He was attacked by Srinidhi, the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple elephant, on October 4 near the Ratha Mandapam.
The elephant knocked him down and stepped on him while being taken to the goshala after Unjala Seva.
Reddy had worked as the elephant’s mahout on a contractual basis for several years and received intensive care after the attack.
TTD provided his family ₹5 lakh in ex gratia and assured a job for one family member; police are investigating.
- Who
- Chandra Sekhar Reddy, 46, a contractual mahout at the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple.
- What
- He died after being critically injured in an attack by the temple elephant Srinidhi.
- When
- The attack occurred on October 4; he died late Wednesday.
- Where
- Near the Ratha Mandapam at the temple in Tiruchanur; he was treated at SVIMS in Tirupati.
- Why
- The circumstances that led to the attack are not established; police are investigating.
Incident account
Safety concerns
What the reports establish
Incident account
Reports say Srinidhi knocked Reddy down and stepped on him while being taken back to the goshala after Unjala Seva; police are gathering information to determine what led to the attack.
Safety concerns
One report says the fatal incident has raised concerns about safety measures for handling temple elephants, particularly as they are moved within temple premises after religious events.
- Victim
- Chandra Sekhar Reddy, 46
- Elephant
- Srinidhi, the temple elephant
- Attack date
- October 4
- Incident location
- Near the Ratha Mandapam at Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple, Tiruchanur
- Treatment
- Intensive care at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati
- Family assistance
- TTD gave the family ₹5 lakh in ex gratia and assured a job for one family member
- Police inquiry
- Tiruchanur police registered a case following a complaint by Reddy's wife, Jyothi, and are investigating
