WATCH: Kerala Family Narrowly Escapes As Aggressive Elephant Charges At Vehicle On Sulthan Bathery-Gundlupet Road

A family returning from Gundlupet on the Sulthan Bathery-Gundlupet road in Kerala experienced an alarming encounter with a wild elephant on Thursday around 4:30 pm. The incident, involving Father Regi Paul, vicar of St Thomas Jacobite Church in Thrikkaipeetta, and his family, was captured on video and widely shared on social media platforms.

As the family traveled, three wild elephants emerged from beneath the road and began crossing the route. Several drivers stopped their vehicles, waiting for the elephants to move away. Once the animals appeared to have entered the forest, traffic resumed. Father Regi Paul and his family were traveling in the vehicle behind the first car.

The situation quickly escalated when one of the elephants suddenly turned back towards the road, coming closer to the Ertiga. With vehicles behind it, the family found themselves only a few meters away from the elephant, turning a routine wildlife sighting into a potentially dangerous encounter. Fortunately, the family managed to avoid injury as they navigated through the tense moments.

Father Regi Paul later recounted the event, emphasizing how the family narrowly escaped harm. The video of the incident went viral on social media, generating concern for the family's safety. However, it also sparked criticism and accusations against the family regarding their actions during the encounter. This incident highlights the potential dangers motorists may face while traveling near forest areas, especially when wild elephants are present on or near the highway.