Close call in Karnataka's Bandipur: 50-year-old man alights from car to take elephant's pic, trampled; thrill-seekers continue to flout forest laws, say officials

MYSURU/BENGALURU: A traveller's reckless move to alight from his vehicle inside Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) nearly cost him his life when a tusker - guarding its calf - charged, knocked him down and trampled him on Sunday evening.

He was lucky to survive with minor scrapes and bruises.BTR director S Prabhakaran said that department officials traced the man from the video footage and identified him as Basavaraj, 50, a resident of Nanjangud. He was returning home after visiting temples in Tamil Nadu along with his family. The hair-raising chase, near Kekkanahalla, 22 km from Gundlupet, has gone viral. In the footage, Basavaraj is seen running for his life beside the interstate highway before tripping.

The tusker pins Basavaraj down and tramples him before retreating. He is then seen scrambling on his feet and fleeing in a passing vehicle.

Thrill-seekers continue to flout forest laws: Officials

Sources in the forest department revealed that the incident happened barely a few kilometres from the forest checkpost.After the elephant retreated back into the forest, passersby attended to Basavaraj and rushed him to a nearby medical facility in Tamil Nadu jurisdiction where doctors declared him to be out of danger.

In a confession video recorded in the custody of forest officials, Basavaraj said he has been penalised for his actions.Officials said despite repeated warnings and a strict ban on alighting from vehicles inside BTR, thrillseekers continue to flout the law. Viral video clips show vehicles lined up on the highway, with several people standing and watching as the elephant chases Basavaraj. “This stretch is notorious for wild elephants.

It is irresponsible on the part of the public to step out of their vehicles for photos, selfies or videos,” said a forest official.Taking note of the incident, forest minister Eshwar Khandre directed the chief wildlife warden to deploy a patrolling vehicle on the lines of the highway patrol units of the NHAI and police to ensure that no passenger alights from vehicles inside the forest and to curb reckless driving within the protected area.