Tense moments were witnessed on the Udumalai–Munnar road after a lone tusker, popularly known as ‘Padayappa’, blocked a government bus near Marayoor in Kerala on Wednesday.
The elephant, known for frequently straying onto the road in the Marayoor region, has earlier been seen stopping vehicles and even attempting to charge at passing cars, with such incidents going viral on social media.
On Wednesday, the bus travelling from Udumalai to Munnar, carrying several passengers, was halted after the tusker stood in the middle of the road. On spotting the vehicle, the elephant reportedly shook its head and moved towards the bus.
The driver cautiously reversed the vehicle, but the elephant continued to advance, triggering panic among passengers. Many were seen praying aloud in fear as tension gripped the bus.
After a brief standoff, the elephant moved away from the road and entered the nearby forest, bringing relief to passengers and allowing traffic to resume.
