Unexpected referee: Elephant sparks panic amongst students during school football match
by Ekta ChaubeyA wild elephant caused a stir in southern India’s Tamil Nadu when it wandered onto the school grounds leaving students in panic.
The incident took place in Gudalur Government Welfare Kottay in Nilgiris district and the video went viral on November 19.
Visuals showed the dramatic moment as the elephant emerged from the nearby forest and entered the school premises. Startled students, who had been playing football, quickly ran for safety. The elephant roamed the area briefly before retreating into the forest on its own, providing much-needed relief to the local community.
According to reports, residents explained that wild elephants often stray from their natural habitats in search of food and water, venturing into residential zones and creating fear among locals. Highlighting the recurring issue, they urged the forest department to implement stricter monitoring to prevent such incidents in the future.