A wild elephant leapt onto a car moving from Mysuru to Coimbatore on the Bengaluru‑Dindigul National Highway near Asanur, Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday, and stepped onto the vehicle, crushing its side mirror. The passengers reported feeling terrified but were not injured, and the driver managed to keep a steady course until the elephant finally dismounted.
Asanur sits on a forested stretch of the highway that borders the Chamarajanagar forests and the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, where wildlife corridors allow elephants to roam freely. Incidents of animals approaching vehicles are not uncommon in this region, especially when motorists inadvertently offer food or stop to load items.
Forest officials have repeatedly cautioned drivers to stay inside their vehicles, maintain a safe distance, and refrain from feeding or approaching wild elephants. Stopping or offering food can encourage more frequent encounters, raising the risk of collisions.
Following the event, traffic authorities plan to issue a temporary advisory for the stretch, urging drivers to be vigilant and to heed forest warnings. No immediate legal actions have been announced, but the incident underscores the need for stricter enforcement of wildlife‑traffic safety measures.