In a rare encounter in southern India’s Telangana, motorists were left panicked as a tiger was spotted crossing a stretch of the highway late at night.

The incident took place on National Highway 44 near the Nirmal and Adilabad districts on November 10.

Visuals showed a tiger crossing the highway late at night, prompting anxious motorists to record the unusual sight. Motorists on the stretch appeared visibly alarmed as they watched the tiger’s movement along the road.

According to reports, a motorist first spotted the tiger and recorded a video as it moved through the forested region between Kuntala and Sarangapur mandals, raising concern among travelers. Telangana forest department officials stated that the tiger was seen near the Ghanpur check post in the Boath range of the Echoda division, Adilabad. “Our team is monitoring the tiger daily,” a department official noted. Forest officials were reportedly on-site, also recording the tiger. It is believed the tiger may have wandered from Maharashtra, likely seeking new territory and a mate, as this is the mating season.