Daijiworld Media Network – Neeleswaram/Kasaragod

Neeleswaram/Kasaragod, July 1: Chaos gripped Neeleswaram town when a buffalo broke free and went on a four-hour rampage, triggering widespread panic across multiple neighbourhoods and prompting urgent public warnings from local authorities.

The animal, brought from Pilathara by Mandampurathu Shafeekh, had been temporarily housed at his residence in Mandampuram after a late-night arrival. It was being prepared for transport to his farm in Karinthalam when it suddenly escaped, charging out onto the National Highway and into surrounding residential areas.

Streets cleared as warnings go out

As the buffalo rampaged through localities like Karuvachery, SS Kalamandiram Road, Ramaram, Thattacherry, Karutha Gate, and Pallikkara, ward councillor Shajeer issued an alert through local WhatsApp groups, urging residents to remain indoors and avoid the streets.

Parents kept their children inside, and most people stepped out only if absolutely necessary, while others watched anxiously as the animal ran unchecked through the town’s roads and alleys.

Four-hour chase ends in cornering

Shafeekh and several local residents tried repeatedly to contain the buffalo, but the animal proved difficult to catch. The chase lasted several tense hours before it was finally cornered inside the premises of a house near St Anne’s School in Pallikkara.

The animal was safely restrained and tied down, ending the high-stress ordeal without any injuries or damage reported.

Questions raised on animal handling

Though no harm was caused, the incident has sparked renewed concerns over the handling and transport of livestock, particularly in densely populated areas. Many residents took to social media to share videos of the animal on the run, while others praised the coordinated effort to avoid disaster.