Tusker Mahendra drops out of golden howdah race

Tusker Mahendra carrying the wooden replica of the golden howdah on the Mysuru palace premises in Mysuru. | Photo Credit: File Photo

Tusker Mahendra is likely to be dropped from the race to carry the golden howdah during the Mysuru Dasara procession after he could not complete the weight-bearing training despite three attempts.

Mahendra was undergoing the third round of training by carrying a wooden replica of the golden howdah when he stopped near the Ayurveda College Circle on Sayyaji Rao Road on Thursday. The wooden howdah was subsequently unloaded and the elephant was taken back to the camp.

The Forest Department had decided to conduct the third round despite having almost decided to drop Mahendra from the race, considering various factors.