Subbulakshmi, an elephant who had been a cherished resident of the Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar temple in Karaikudi for over 30 years, tragically passed away due to injuries sustained in a fire.
The Elephant Mandapam, situated near the temple’s stairway, had a palm leaf roof covering its tin sheet-covered structure, which shielded the elephant from the sun. On the night of 12 September 2024, a fire broke out in this makeshift shed due to an electrical malfunction.
In an attempt to escape the blaze, Subbulakshmi managed to exit the hall on her own. The staff and visitors noticed the injured elephant and promptly alerted the temple administration. Police, forest officials, and veterinarians across Tamil Nadu arrived to provide urgent care. Despite their best efforts, Subbulakshmi succumbed to her injuries. Kunnakudi Ponnambala Adigalar and the temple community paid their respects in the wake of her passing. The loss of the temple’s beloved elephant has deeply saddened devotees and residents.
In response to the tragic death of the elephant, the Tamil Nadu BJP State President for the Spiritual and Temple Development Wing, M Nachiappan, has condemned the incident, placing blame on the ruling DMK and the temple administrators. He argued that the DMK government’s neglect extends beyond temples, chariots, gosalas to include the welfare of temple elephants. He claimed the responsibility for this oversight rests with the HR&CE and the Kunnakudi administration, accusing them of deceiving devotees. The Tamil Nadu BJP has expressed strong disapproval of the situation, questioning why there should be an HR&CE department for such anarchy.
காரைக்குடி, குன்றக்குடியில் உள்ள குன்றக்குடி ஆதீனத்தால் நிர்வகிக்கப்படுகின்ற முருகன் கோயில் யானை சுப்புலட்சுமி, யானை மண்டபத்தில் ஏற்பட்ட தீ விபத்து காரணமாக, தீக்காயம் ஏற்பட்டு உயிருக்கு போராடி வருகிறது.
போதிய பராமரிப்பின்றி இருந்த யானை மண்டபத்தில் மேற்கூரையான தகர சீட்டின் மேல்… pic.twitter.com/I0RDDMNGPg
— M Nachiappan (@BJPNach) September 12, 2024
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