Shocking moment elephants fight each other before turning on the crowd and injuring dozens as they go on the rampage at Indian religious festival

This is the shocking moment that two elephants fought each other before turning on the crowd and injuring dozens of worshippers at a religious festival in India.

Thousands of devotees had gathered at the Tharakkal Hindu temple for the Hindu procession in the city of Thrissur in Kerala, southern India on Friday night.

But the older bull named Guruvayur Ravikrishnan became agitated and lashed out at another elephant Puthuppally Arjunan.

The two elephants began tussling before charging through the assembled crowds.

This is the shocking moment that two elephants who were made to fight each other turned on the crowd and injured dozens of worshippers at a religious festival in India

The older bull named Guruvayur Ravikrishnan became agitated and lashed out and another elephant Puthuppally Arjunan

Mahout Sreekumar, 53, narrowly escaped three attempts by the animal to attack him. He was injured and taken to a private hospital at Koorkenchery.

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Video shows one of the elephants charging at the other as they lock tusks and have a bit of a brawl.

The crowds start running from the incident as other step in to try and control the commotion.

The elephants continue to stamp around the procession as people run away.

Officials said dozens of attendees were injured when they tried to flee but fell over with the elephants charging towards them.

The rampaging elephants were both caught around half a mile from the event, officials said. The pair were subdued and secured.

The authorities are now investigating the cause of the incident

The sub-continent has at least 30,000 wild elephants - more than any other country and approximately 60 per cent of the world's entire Asian elephant population.

Many more elephants are held in captivity in India.

They are used for religious events and weddings.

Officials said dozens of attendees were injured when they tried to flee but fell over with the elephants charging towards them