Tungabadhra floods: Mantralayam Jumbos saved

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy/Mantralayam

Two elephants serving at Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy temple inMantralayam were saved by mahouts who unlocked their legs as the water level rose tosix feet.The two pachyderms were shifted to Kalludevakunta a nearby village which is situatedfour kilometre from Mantralayam by Mahouts.The rabbits and deers that were in the garden were shifted three months ago as the straydogs are entering into to prey upon them.Mantralayam SI of police Mr Srinivas said ,"as the flood water level rose the mahoutsshifted the elephants. The deer and rabbits were handed over to forest department asstray dogs attacked one of them in the garden,"Mr Vittal Joshi the poorvshrama son in law of the Madhvacharya Mutt pntiff SriSuyateendra Teertha Swamy said ,"the elephants were kept in the garden just beside theriver. Initially the water was only a few feet as the levels rose the mahout took them outto safety,"There two elephants a male and a female near the mutt and they are used forgajavahana seva for the Sri Gura Raghavendra swamy.The male one named Raghunandana was donated by an NRI in 2005 and Surgarcane forthe elephants is grown near Madhavaram village.Archaka Jayteendra said ,"initially the water was only to the feets within no time thelevels rose so they were taken to the nearby village,"SI of Police M Srinivas said ,"the chopper that came on October 2nd saved three lives ofvictims stranded on a tree.,"