Sivaganga (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 13 (ANI): Subbulakshmi, a 54-year-old elephant at the famous Sri Shanmuganathar Temple in the Sivaganga district, died after allegedly sustaining burns from a fire in the early hours of Friday.

People flocked to the temple premises and paid tributes to the elephant after the news of the animal's death.

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Reportedly, on the night of September 12, a fire broke out near the thatched roof of the structure where the animal was housed.

Fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flames, but the elephant sustained serious burns.

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Though Forest Department officials and a veterinarian from the Animal Husbandry Department gave treatment to the elephant, it breathed its last on Friday morning.

Tamil Nadu Minister for Cooperation KR Periakaruppan, Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar, and the public paid their respects to the elephant at its funeral on Friday.

Residents also stuck posters around the locality mourning Subbulakshmi's death.

The female elephant, Subbulakshmi, was gifted by a devotee to the temple in 1971.

The Kundrakudi police have registered a case and the cause of the fire is being investigated. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)