Man narrowly escapes elephant attack in Bandipur, video goes viral

Bandipur: A man had a narrow escape from the foot of an elephant at Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary on the National Highway stretch in Gundlupet taluk around Sunday noon. The man has been identified as Basavaraj, 50, a native of Nanjangud.

Visuals posted online by passengers went viral by Monday, drawing sharp criticism over the man’s recklessness. The elephant was chewing tomatoes it had grabbed from a passing vehicle when the man stepped out from his car to take photographs on the opposite side of the road.

Moments later, the tusker crossed the road and began chasing him. Clad in a white shirt, the man ran for his life as vehicles queued on both sides. The elephant charged as a car tried to cross, then looped around to reach him.

The man stumbled onto the tar road and fell. Onlookers held their breath as the tusker tried to trample him. Suddenly, the elephant moved away, leaving him with only minor injuries.

The Karnataka Forest Department is now searching for the man, suspected to be from Kerala.

Retired IFS officer Susanda Nanda called it a “tragedy,” posting on X: “This is not a wildlife moment, it’s a tragedy. Wild will be wild. Respect their space & power. They deserve their distance. Remember that a tusker’s charge is unstoppable. Stay away from them.”