This is the dramatic moment a mahout is rescued after his elephant ran amok during a temple festival.

The incident occurred at Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala, on February 26.

The elephant Mavelikkara Ganapati, which was taking part in the temple parade, went on a rampage after it was jabbed by another tusker standing next to it.

People who were safely perched on the terrace of the temple threw down a rope and pulled up the desperate man to safety as an anxious crowd of onlookers broke into cheers.

A mahout was pulled up to safety after his elephant ran amok during a temple festival.
The incident occurred at Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple in Kottayam, Kerala, India in the early hours of February 26.
The elephant Mavelikkara Ganapati, which was taking part in the temple parade, went on a rampage after it was jabbed by another tusker standing next to it.
It lost its cool and tried to shake down the mahout with brisk body movements. It would also have been dangerous for him to get down on his own.
A few people, who were safely perched on the terrace of the temple, tried to rescue him. They threw down a rope and pulled up the desperate man to safety as an anxious crowd of onlookers broke into cheers.
Luckily for the mahout, the elephant allowed him to escape without trying to pull him down with its trunk.

Animal welfare activists have called for a ban on the practice of using elephants in temple festivities saying they torment the animals and turn them dangerous.