A wild elephant charged at a group of passersby in the Porla forest range of Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on Sunday evening, May 17, after some people allegedly tried to move too close to the wild animal.
A video of the incident went viral on social media. In the viral video, it can be seen that bystanders gather near a jungle on the road where a wild elephant was staring at the passerby and attempted to approach it. After briefed staring, the animal came forward towards the road.
The animal suddenly charged towards the crowd on the road, triggering panic among those present. People were seen running for safety as the elephant moved aggressively for a short distance.
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A man who was riding a bike also abandoned his motorcycle on the road in panic after seeing a wild jumbo approaching towards him. However, no injuries or casualties were reported in the dramatic incident.
Forest department personnel later reached the spot and monitored the movement of the elephant. Authorities have appealed to residents and travellers in forest areas to avoid approaching wild animals.
Forest officials said elephants can become aggressive if they feel threatened or disturbed. They urged people to maintain a safe distance and immediately inform the forest department if a wild animal is spotted near human settlements or roads.
The Gadchiroli region has witnessed frequent elephant movement in recent years, with forest teams regularly tracking herds passing through various ranges of the district.