An out-of-control elephant injured at least four devotees when it bolted during a religious procession in India.

Locals were celebrating a Hindu chariot festival when the agitated jumbo broke off from its convoy in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, at around 9:30 am local time today.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows officers clearing the crowd with sticks as the beast, bedecked in ceremonial garb, charged across the street. Mahouts ran alongside the rampaging tusker while trying to control him.

Forest department personnel managed to subdue the bull with tranquilisers before it was removed from the area. They believe the loud music had spooked the normally sedate pachyderm.

Emergency service GVK EMRI said an injured policewoman received first aid while a male devotee was taken to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for treatment.

The Ahmedabad Police said in a statement: 'The elephant became uncontrollable in the Khadia area. It was removed from the Rath Yatra festival, and the event is continuing as scheduled.'

The Indian 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.