Kerala is mourning the death of a 45-year-old captive elephant, Pallattu Brahmadathan. In a shocking incident, the gentle giant died after being struck by lightning near Erattupetta in Kerala’s Kottayam district on Sunday evening around 5:30 PM (October 4). As per reports and forest officials, the elephant was close to its owner’s house at Melampara when lightning struck during heavy rain. Known as “Gaja Kausthubham,” the tusker was known for participating in major cultural events, including the Thrissur Pooram.According to the reports, a veterinary doctor was called who later confirmed the death. The incident has also brought attention to the risks posed by thunderstorms and lightning during Kerala’s rainy season on outdoor destinations and animals.What happened to Pallattu Brahmadathan?Brahmadathan was quite a famous elephant. He was a captive animal who regularly participated in temple festivals across Kerala. As per reports, the elephant was at the Pallattu family property in Melampara, near Erattupetta, when the lightning incident happened.He was a familiar name among elephant enthusiasts because of his association with temple festivals. He was brought to Kerala from Arunachal Pradesh nearly 30 years ago and had carried the thidambu, or sacred replica of the deity, during Thrissur Pooram.His death came as Kerala continued to experience thunderstorm activity. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), citing the India Meteorological Department (IMD), had issued a lightning warning on October 2, covering October 4–6, with thunderstorms and strong winds expected in parts of the state.Why travellers need to be cautious during thunderstorms
45-year-old elephant, Pallattu Brahmadathan
The incident is particularly relevant for visitors exploring Kerala’s hills, waterfalls, trekking routes and other outdoor attractions.The state experiences two rainy seasons, with the northeast monsoon becoming prominent around October and November. The Kottayam region and nearby highland areas are popular with travellers because of their hills, plantations, waterfalls and scenic landscapes.Erattupetta itself is in Kottayam district, while nearby Vagamon is a major highland destination known for its meadows, pine forests and adventure activities such as trekking, paragliding, mountaineering and rock climbing.Kerala issues specific lightning safety adviceKSDMA’s latest lightning advisory makes it clear that lightning can pose a serious threat not only to people but also to animals and advises people to move indoors as soon as they notice the first signs of lightning or thunderstorms. The authority also advises against keeping domestic animals tethered in open areas during lightning.What it means for travellers
Kottayam, Oct 5 (IANS) All roads seemed to lead to Melambara, near Kottayam in Kerala, as hundreds of people, including Christian priests and scores of elephant lovers, made a beeline on Monday to bid a final farewell to ‘Pallatt Brahmadathan’, Kerala’s much-loved pachyderm who died after being struck by lightning.
- Move indoors as soon as thunderclouds develop, rather than waiting for heavy rain
- Avoid trekking, hiking or sightseeing from exposed hilltops during thunderstorms
- Do not take shelter beneath trees
- Avoid terraces, open viewpoints and other elevated exposed locations
- Follow local warnings before exploring the outdoor attractions
- Keep checking official IMD and KSDMA updates when travelling during periods of unstable weather
- KSDMA also recommends the Damini lightning-alert app, developed using IMD information, to help people monitor lightning activity.
After the forest department completed the postmortem examination, Brahmadathan was cremated near the Pallattu house. His death is a tragic reminder that lightning can strike suddenly, even during an ordinary rainy evening and that people should take official thunderstorm warnings seriously.
