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A wild elephant stepped on a motorcyclist twice on the Haridwar Dehradun elephant incident Highway in Uttarakhand on Thursday morning. The biker survived the terrifying encounter near Nepali Farm, close to Jolly Grant Airport. A video of the incident has spread rapidly across social media.
According to reports, the incident took place at around 4 am on November 12. The elephant reportedly knocked the rider down and placed its feet on his chest and stomach. Surprisingly, the man managed to stand up after the animal moved away. Haridwar Dehradun elephant incident
Video Captures the Terrifying Encounter
A passing cab driver, Shiva Sharma, recorded the incident. He later shared the footage on his Facebook account at around 3:46 am. The video shows the elephant approaching the motorcyclist and stepping over him.
The animal then broke through a roadside railing and moved towards the nearby forest. The footage attracted widespread attention because the rider appeared to escape the encounter.
However, reports have not independently established the biker’s identity or medical condition. Authorities have not confirmed all details of the incident.
Why Elephants Appear Near the Highway
The affected stretch lies close to Rajaji Tiger Reserve, a protected forest area known for its elephant population.
The highway passes through a landscape where wildlife corridors and human movement often overlap. Elephants may approach roads while moving between forest areas in search of food or water.
Such encounters can create serious risks for motorists, especially during early morning and night hours.
Motorists Need to Follow Wildlife Safety Rules
The incident highlights the importance of caution while travelling through forest corridors. Drivers should reduce speed when they see wildlife near the road.
They should never approach, chase or attempt to photograph a wild elephant from close range. Honking or surrounding the animal can also increase the risk of an aggressive response.
Forest officials and road users must remain alert in areas where elephant movement is common.
The incident has once again brought attention to human-elephant conflict in Uttarakhand and the need for safer movement along roads passing through wildlife habitats.