Mysuru: The second round of cannon drill rehearsal session for Dasara elephants and horses to make them familiarise with the loud sound of cannons was held successfully at the parking lot near Varaha Gate of Mysore Palace this morning.

Except for Chaitra, Dhananjaya and Prashantha, all other elephants stood still. As many as 21 rounds of firing, with three shots in each round were carried out.

The ‘Cannon Squad’ comprising 30 personnel attached to City Armed Reserve (CAR)  conducted the rehearsal using five cannons.

In the first round, one kilogram of gunpowder was used. Two kilograms of gunpowder was used in the second round to make the elephants and horses more familiarise with the sound. As many as 22 horses took part in the drill along with 12 Dasara elephants in the second round, an increase of 10 horses this time.   

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Sidramappa Chalkapure said that all the elephants stood still when compared to the previous rehearsal. Chaitra, Dhananjaya and Prashantha were bit scared but they will be ready during the next drill, he said. There is no much behavioural changes noticed among Dasara elephants during canon firing practise, he added.

City Police Commissioner Dr.A. Subramanyeswara Rao, DCPs Dr.N. Vishnuvardhan, Dr. Vikram V. Amathe, DCP (CAR) B.V. Kittur, RFO Ananyakumar, Veternarian Dr  D N Nagaraj and others were present.