Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, July 28: A lone wild elephant was spotted near Boliyar, close to Dharmasthala, on the morning of July 28, creating panic among schoolchildren waiting at a bus stop nearby.

According to sources, the elephant suddenly appeared on the roadside and moved toward the bus shelter where students were waiting for their morning school bus. Alarmed by the unexpected sight of the massive animal, the frightened children rushed into a nearby shop to take shelter.

The elephant later returned to the forest, and a major mishap was narrowly avoided.

The incident comes close on the heels of a recent fatal elephant attack near Gundi in Kokkada-Sautadka area, where a man was killed about two weeks ago. The latest sighting has deepened public fear, especially in rural areas.

Farmers in the Beltangady region have been repeatedly bearing the brunt of wild elephant incursions, with significant crop damage reported over the past few months. With incidents now involving direct encounters near human settlements, fear has spread among early morning commuters, schoolchildren, and dairy farmers who must travel through forest-adjacent areas.