On the busy highway between Rishikesh and Dehradun in Uttarakhand, something truly awe-inspiring occurred: a group of majestic elephants emerged from the forest onto the road. The presence of vehicles halted their crossing, agitating the gentle giants. What ensued was a dramatic stand-off as the elephants attempted to charge at the vehicles, igniting a sense of alarm among drivers who began to retreat to safety.
According to eyewitnesses, the sudden appearance of the elephant herd brought traffic to a standstill, casting a shadow of suspense over the highway. As they attempted to cross the road from one side to another, the confusion escalated. The elephants, unable to reach the other side due to the stream of cars, made a valiant attempt to break through. This encounter left onlookers both terrified and awe-struck as they observed the magnificent creatures' struggle.
The traffic snarl prevented the elephants from crossing
Locals suggest that the constant flow of traffic on the Rishikesh-Dehradun highway was the barrier keeping the elephants from reaching the Chandrabhaga River on the opposite side. As their frustration mounted, they began trumpeting angrily, sparking fears of a potential vehicle attack. Upon witnessing this, vehicles on both sides of the highway came to a grinding halt. Some drivers even managed to capture these harrowing moments on video, which swiftly became a social media sensation.
Here's the shocking video
The video of the incident has gone viral; forest officials were noticeably absent from the scene
The video revealed a complete traffic gridlock caused by the elephants. Forest department staff failed to arrive on the scene, and despite the danger, the crowd did not maintain a safe distance from the elephants. Instead, risk-takers continued to snap selfies and record videos. The disturbance from the vehicles eventually drove the elephants back to the forest after approximately 20 minutes. Fortunately, the elephants did not harm anyone during this tense encounter.
