Mysuru, Oct. 9 -- * Fails to complete weight-carrying exercise

* Exhausted jumbo stops midway

* Wooden Howdah removed mid-route

* Dropped from Golden Howdah race

Dasara tusker Mahendra, who was in the race to carry the Golden Howdah, failed to complete the weight-training exercise after refusing to move forward with the wooden howdah on his back yesterday. Officials subsequently decided to drop him from the race.

Mahendra set out from the Palace premises last evening with the wooden howdah and walked with the other elephants.

However, he stopped near Devaraja Market and refused to move. After the sandbags were removed to reduce the weight, he walked up to Government Ayurveda College and Hospital Circle, where he again stood still. ...