Authorities in Sri Lanka have confirmed that a total of 18 people were injured after an elephant went on a rampage during a religious event.
The incident which occurred during the Buddhist pageant in Kotte, resulted in a number of people including two children being injured after the overwhelmed elephant began to charge at onlookers.
Although 16 people have since been discharged from following the incident, a man who was riding upon the elephant’s back was lucky to avoid being trampled on when he was thrown to the ground.
It is believed that the elephant which had lights placed on its head charged at the crowd after a government minister went to place a sacred relic on its back.