Overview
- Forest officials said Parthasarathi was brought from the old Bandipur camp to aid efforts to capture a tiger preying on livestock in Ingalaavadi, Padaguru and Kallalli over roughly two weeks.
- The elephant broke free around 6:30 p.m. near the Gundlupet bus stand when flies bit it as mahout Chethan offered water, throwing the handler as it bolted.
- Witnesses reported panic in the town but no injuries or damage, and a chain on the leg signaled the animal was a captive elephant.
- Tracking teams now suspect the animal moved across the Gundlupet–Kerala Highway through Mallayyanapura and Srirampura toward Madahalli and the slopes of Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.
- Parthasarathi, known locally for a gentle temperament and past Dasara duty, remains unlocated as the tiger-capture operation continues.