Panic broke out on the Jolly Grant–Rishikesh road near Doiwala after an elephant suddenly appeared on the busy stretch, forcing motorists to stop or speed away to avoid danger. The elephant was seen running along the road for some distance before moving back into the forest area. Fortunately, no vehicle was damaged and no injuries were reported.
The incident occurred near the Rani Pokhari bridge and Dehradun airport road, an area identified as a traditional elephant corridor connecting Barkot and Thano forest ranges. Due to increasing encroachment around the corridor, elephants are reportedly unable to use their natural paths and are straying onto main roads.
Forest officials acknowledge that repeated obstruction of elephant corridors has altered animal movement patterns. Instead of crossing quickly, elephants now walk long distances along highways, increasing the risk of accidents. Locals pointed out that elephants have attacked vehicles in this area in the past, but no effective preventive measures have been implemented so far.
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Residents and regular commuters have urged the administration to clear encroachments and strengthen monitoring in the corridor zone, warning that continued negligence could lead to a major human-wildlife conflict in the near future.
