Coonoor: Panic gripped railway workers at the Hillgrove stretch of the Coonoor–Mettupalayam mountain railway route yesterday when a wild elephant suddenly charged out of a tunnel, forcing the employees to scatter and flee for their safety. Video footage of the terrifying encounter has since surfaced and created a sensation in the region.

The workers were engaged in routine maintenance duties along the tracks when they heard unusual noises emanating from inside a large tunnel. Suspecting something amiss, they stepped away from their work to investigate the source of the sound, with one of them recording the moment on video. Suddenly, a wild elephant came charging out of the tunnel, kicking up clouds of dust as it rushed toward them with clear intent to attack. The railway workers immediately scattered and fled in all directions to escape the charging animal.

Coonoor railway workers flee for safety as wild elephant bursts out of tunnel

According to witnesses, the workers ran across a bridge spanning the tracks to put distance between themselves and the elephant. The animal did not cross the structure to pursue them further. After standing aggressively for a short while, the elephant eventually retreated back into the forest area.

The dramatic video footage capturing the moment the elephant emerged from the tunnel and chased the workers has since been widely circulated, creating a stir across the Nilgiris region. No injuries were reported in the incident, as the workers managed to escape in time.

Wild elephant sightings and encounters have become increasingly common in the Nilgiris district, which forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and serves as a crucial corridor for elephant movement.