Among the thousands of Muslims who fled Patiala were the 20 mahouts who kept the royal elephant stables. The region was facing a refugee crisis bigger than the one in Syria now. The oldest of them was aged about 65, as old as the oldest royal elephant. But gloom descended upon the elephant stables. By the fifth day, the crisis was deep enough for Maharaja Yadavindra Singh to order a search for the 20 runaway mahouts.

Source: Times of India July 04, 2016 10:38 UTC