Elephants storm kanwar yatra camp in Uttarakhand after loud music sparks chaos | Watch

Representative image (Source: Pexel)

A herd of elephants stormed a kanwar yatra camp near Uttarakhand’s Mani Mai temple on Saturday night after being provoked by blaring DJ music and unruly crowds, triggering panic and minor injuries. The incident, reported by TOI, occurred around 8.30 pm in Lachhiwala forest, where pilgrims had set up a temporary bhandara (community kitchen) along a known wildlife corridor.

Amid loud music and noise, an elephant went berserk and attacked several vehicles at a Kanwar bhandara in Dehradun. pic.twitter.com/RIpVmzW72x

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According to officials cited by TOI, three elephants - a male, female and their calf - emerged from the forest to cross the road but were agitated by loud music and a dense gathering. Some pilgrims allegedly worsened the situation by shouting and attempting to film the animals, prompting the elephants to overturn two trolleys and trample along the camp’s periphery. One local man sustained injuries while fleeing the scene.

Authorities swiftly intervened, with forest guards and police using firecrackers to drive the herd back into the woods. The camp was evacuated and vehicles were removed to prevent further conflict.

Doiwala SHO Kamal Kumar Lunthi was cited by TOI as saying that, "Kanwariyas had parked their vehicles near the temple and started a food camp. Suddenly, a herd of elephants came out from the forest, at which point some pilgrims increased the volume of the DJ system and started yelling, irritating the animals. Two trolleys were overturned by the irked elephants."

He added that while the elephants did not enter the main tent area, averting a larger disaster, police have since deployed teams along the highway to monitor pilgrim activity.

Forest staff are now patrolling critical points along the yatra route and traffic diversions have been enforced near forest corridors. Officials have reportedly issued strict warnings against camping near wildlife zones, emphasising the dangers of provoking animals.