Wild Elephant Charges At Public Bus, Breaks Windshield In Hair-Raising Video [Watch]

A hair-raising video featuring a wild elephant charging at a moving public bus in India has surfaced online, reminding people that though animals are calm and friendly, their violent anger and outbursts can be rather terrifying.

The bus, which was carrying a total of 50 passengers, was on its way from Munnar to Udumalpet through the winding mountain roads when it suddenly came under the wrath of the wild tusker. Fortunately, the driver managed to keep his calm and navigate the vehicle to safety after the animal retracted and moved aside, Indian Express reported.

Indian Administrative Officer Supriya Sahu posted the video of the incident on Twitter, calling the bus driver "Mr. Cool" for maintaining composure during the ordeal. "Don't know who the driver of this government bus is but he is certainly Mr Cool. The way he handled the supervision check by Mr Elephant, it was like business as usual between them," he wrote in the caption.

In the video, the elephant can be seen going back into the wilderness. However, it suddenly changes its mind and inches closer to the vehicle instead. Using its tusks, it hits the bus' windshield, cracking it. The elephant then backs off a bit, apparently intending to launch another attack. But before it can, the driver swiftly steers the vehicle away from the animal's reach.

Comments from netizens quickly poured in, with many of them lauding the driver for his presence of mind. "Wonderful display of courage and presence of mind by the driver," one of them wrote. Meanwhile, another noted, "Driver has guts really! I wouldn't have done this … scary!! But beautiful to watch!"

It was not the first time the elephant, which local residents fondly call "Padayappa," has attacked a vehicle on the road. Prior to the incident captured in the now-viral video, the animal pushed a tractor that blocked its way at Kadalar estate under Kannan Devan Tea plantations near Munnar, as per Times Now.

According to a June 2021 report from CNN, elephants claim an average of 500 lives in India each year. The country, which reportedly has the world's largest population of Asian elephants, has more than 100 national parks and about 30 elephant reserves. Despite this, a huge number of its elephants remain outside protected areas and have limited habitats to explore in search of food, therefore increasing their contact with people.