A tense standoff between man and beast unfolded on a forest road in Krishnagiri district on Saturday morning, when a solitary wild elephant emerged to block a government bus, creating a moment of fear for passengers.
The Roadblock in the Forest
The incident occurred in the Keratti forest area near Anchetty. The state transport bus was on its scheduled route from Hosur in Krishnagiri district to Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district, travelling via Denkanikottai and Anchetty. Without warning, the elephant stepped out from a nearby stream and planted itself squarely in the middle of the road, bringing the bus to an abrupt halt.
A Patient Wait for Passage
Displaying commendable caution, the bus driver chose not to provoke the large animal. He stopped the vehicle and waited patiently. The bus remained stationary for several minutes while the elephant held its ground. According to an official from the Anchetty forest range, the bus proceeded with its journey only after the elephant voluntarily decided to move away from the road and retreat back into the forest.
Growing Calls for Preventive Measures
This encounter has heightened concerns among residents of the area. Locals have now appealed to the forest department to increase vigilance. They are urging officials to closely monitor the movement patterns of wild elephants in the Anchetty range and implement effective measures to prevent the animals from straying out of their natural habitat and onto public roads. Such incidents highlight the ongoing challenge of human-wildlife coexistence in regions bordering forest reserves.
