Ahmedabad Rath Yatra: A few elephants participating in the ceremonial procession of the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad broke loose on Friday, triggering panic as they ran down the road. Mahouts eventually brought the animals under control, but not before at least two people sustained injuries. Police quickly escorted the elephants away from the scene, allowing the procession to continue without further disruption.

The incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. as the Rath Yatra moved through the Khadia neighborhood. Chaos erupted on the narrow, crowded streets of the walled city when a caparisoned elephant suddenly broke from the group and bolted in the opposite direction. A couple of other elephants also strayed off the designated route, adding to the confusion.

Take a look at the video:
https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1938465803462185300

The police urged people to keep their distance, while the mahouts quickly pursued and subdued the rogue elephant. The GVK-EMRI paramedic service, present at the scene, reported that they transported a male devotee to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for treatment and provided immediate first aid to a female police officer. Videos from the event show one of the elephants charging down the road as crowds lined up on either side. Police officers tried to calm the panicked devotees during the tense moments until the mahouts finally brought the elephant under control.

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The Ahmedabad City Police announced on X at 10:28 a.m. that they had removed the elephants from the Rath Yatra procession after the animals went out of control in the Khadia area. Despite the incident, the procession is continuing as per schedule. Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed the mangala aarti at the Jagannath temple in Jamalpur at 4 a.m. on Friday. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel followed with the traditional pahind ceremony, sweeping the temple premises with a golden broom. These rituals officially marked the start of the 16-kilometer journey of the 148th Rath Yatra. To ensure safety and smooth conduct, more than 23,000 police officers and personnel from other forces have been deployed to secure the oldest and largest Rath Yatra in Gujarat.

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