Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, Aug 4: A lone tusker was spotted near the ninth hairpin bend of Charmadi Ghat on Sunday night and again on Monday morning, prompting motorists to halt their vehicles until the elephant safely crossed the road.

Passengers captured videos of the elephant crossing the road, and the footage has since gone viral on social media. Forest department personnel rushed to the spot and safely drove the animal back into the forest.

The lone tusker has been sighted several times near the roadside in the Charmadi Ghat stretch in recent weeks. In view of increased movement of wild animals in the ghat section, the Forest Department has urged motorists to exercise caution while travelling through the area.

Meanwhile, two wild elephants were reported moving through Koukradi village in Beltangady taluk on Monday night, creating panic among residents.

The sighting comes just days after a daily wage labourer, Balakrishna Gowda, was killed in a wild elephant attack in the village on Saturday. Villagers fear that one of the elephants seen on Monday could be the same rogue elephant responsible for the fatal attack.

Residents have appealed to people to avoid venturing out unnecessarily during the night and to remain vigilant while heading out early in the morning for agricultural work, plantation activities, office duties and other essential purposes.

Villagers have urged the Forest Department to closely monitor the situation and take immediate steps to safely drive the elephants back into the forest to prevent further incidents.