A serious incident occurred during the famous Dasara festival in Mysuru. Two elephants, Kanjan and Dhananjay, clashed during feeding time within the Mysuru Palace grounds, creating panic among those present. Chaos erupted in the palace when Dhananjay aggressively attacked Kanjan, prompting Kanjan to try to escape from the premises. Alarmingly, Kanjan managed to leave without his mahout. Dhananjay pursued him, escalating the situation further. Both elephants broke through barricades near the Jayamarthanda Gate and Someshwara Temple, reaching the road close to Dodda Kere.

This incident shocked people both inside and outside the palace, leading to a stampede as attendees scrambled for safety. The strength and speed of the elephants put immense pressure on security measures. Fortunately, quick actions by the palace mahouts and staff prevented a major disaster. They skillfully calmed both elephants and brought them back under control, ensuring no injuries or significant damage occurred.

Mysuru’s Dasara festival is renowned for its royal elephants, which are a key part of the tradition. These elephants are the main attraction each year and participate in the royal procession. However, this incident has raised concerns about the festival's preparations and the surrounding security arrangements.

Given the scale and importance of an event like Dasara, questions have emerged regarding the adequacy of security measures in place. Local authorities and palace officials are now being urged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Palace officials and mahouts are working to ensure stricter monitoring of the elephants’ behavior to avoid such situations going forward.