Commuters on National Highway-16 faced an unexpected delay on Wednesday as a wild elephant strayed onto the road, disrupting traffic movement for around 45 minutes between the Jaraka and Barabati stretch in Odisha’s Jajpur district, officials said.

The animal, suspected to have wandered from the Tomka Reserve Forest, caused panic among motorists and pedestrians. Police and forest department officials rushed to the spot and carefully guided the elephant away from the highway to prevent any accidents.

Authorities have urged travelers to remain cautious, as elephants occasionally stray into human settlements in search of food, especially during this time of the year. The forest department is monitoring the situation to ensure the animal returns safely to its habitat.

No injuries or property damage were reported during the incident, but the sudden appearance of the elephant led to a brief traffic jam before normal movement resumed.

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