Tourists Ride Elephants to Escape Floods: What began as a serene wildlife retreat soon turned into a life-threatening adventure for a group of tourists in Alipurduar, West Bengal. As torrential rains lashed North Bengal, flash floods swept through the forested stretches of Jaldapara National Park, submerging roads, cutting off bridges, and trapping visitors in an isolated wilderness.
With no vehicles able to pass through and waters still rising, forest officials had to resort to an age-old ally — the elephants. In a rescue operation that blended courage, instinct, and innovation, trained forest elephants (locally called kunkis) ferried stranded tourists across the swollen Holong River, turning an ordinary safari into a heart-stopping escape.
For many of those rescued, it was an “unforgettable experience” — not for the thrill of a jungle ride, but for the raw confrontation with nature’s might and man’s fragility before it.
The Flood Fury: Alipurduar Under Water
The district of Alipurduar, known for its rich biodiversity and sprawling forests, was hit by one of the heaviest rain spells in recent memory. The incessant downpour caused rivers like the Torsha, Holong, and Jaldhaka to overflow, breaching embankments and washing away vital access bridges.
One of the key casualties of the deluge was the wooden Holong Bridge, which connected the Madarihat Tourist Lodge, forest offices, and the famed Holong Bungalow — a popular wildlife lodge inside Jaldapara. When the bridge collapsed under the pressure of raging waters, nearly two dozen tourists were left stranded inside the forest zone, cut off from the main highway and neighboring settlements.
Electric poles toppled, mobile networks faltered, and the narrow forest roads turned into muddy rivers. For the tourists, most of whom had come from cities like Kolkata, Siliguri, and Guwahati, the sudden isolation was terrifying.
“We came to see elephants and rhinos,” said one stranded visitor, “but we didn’t imagine we’d depend on an elephant to save our lives.”
When Roads Disappeared, Elephants Stepped In
With vehicular movement impossible and water currents too strong for any boat, the Forest Department in Jaldapara had to improvise. As dawn broke and the rains momentarily eased, forest guards and mahouts brought in three trained elephants — part of the forest’s official patrol team.
These elephants, used for safaris and rescue duties, became the unexpected heroes of the day. They were loaded with supplies and carefully guided across knee-to-chest-deep water to reach the stranded tourists on the opposite bank.
The elephants then made multiple trips — each carrying two to three tourists — to the higher grounds of Madarihat, nearly a kilometer away via a longer and safer detour route.
A forest ranger who supervised the operation said,
“It was risky, but the elephants knew the route well. They sensed the depth, avoided strong currents, and ensured that the tourists were carried across safely.”
The mission, executed with precision and calm, ensured that every stranded visitor was evacuated without injury.
Tourists Ride Elephants to Escape Floods: A Safari Turned Survival Story
Among the tourists was Tania Sen, a traveler from Kolkata, who later described the ordeal as surreal:
“We came for an elephant safari that got canceled because of the rain. Ironically, we ended up taking a real one — across a flooded river! It was terrifying yet awe-inspiring. The elephants were so steady and brave; we owe them our lives.”
For many, the moment symbolized the deep interdependence between humans and wildlife — an emotional bond often forgotten in the world of modern tourism. The gentle giants that once carried visitors for leisure had now become rescuers, embodying both the power and compassion of the natural world.
The Collapse of Holong Bridge: A Symbol of Neglect
The dramatic rescue also highlighted a recurring and uncomfortable truth — the fragility of infrastructure in the Dooars region.
The Holong wooden bridge, a lifeline for forest officers, tourists, and locals, had long been in need of reinforcement. Built decades ago, the structure could not withstand the intense current and collapsed, cutting off communication to the north range office, the Madarihat forest camp, and the Tourist Lodge.
Experts have repeatedly warned that the Dooars — with its network of rivers and forest tracts — requires flood-resistant, elevated bridges designed for heavy rainfall. However, bureaucratic delays and lack of maintenance have left several such crossings vulnerable.
Environmental activist Praful Rao, founder of Save The Hills, remarked in an earlier interview that North Bengal’s forest infrastructure remains “critically underprepared” for the kind of extreme weather that climate change now routinely brings.
“We are reactive, not preventive,” he said. “Each year we rebuild what the rains destroy instead of constructing something that can withstand nature.”
Jaldapara: A Landscape of Beauty and Danger
Jaldapara National Park, located at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas, is famed for its population of one-horned rhinos, elephants, gaurs, and over 250 bird species. The park’s dense grasslands and riverine forests are crisscrossed by numerous streams and seasonal channels.
While this geography nurtures extraordinary biodiversity, it also makes the region extremely prone to floods and erosion. Heavy monsoon rainfall often transforms calm streams into raging torrents within hours, isolating forest outposts and trapping both humans and wildlife.
The recent deluge did not just impact tourists — it also displaced wild animals. Forest staff reported sightings of rhinos, deer, and elephants moving toward higher ground to escape the inundation. The delicate balance of the ecosystem was once again disturbed by erratic climate patterns and inadequate preparedness.
A Broader Pattern: Floods and the Fragile Dooars
The elephant rescue in Alipurduar is not an isolated event — it is part of a broader pattern of repeated monsoon disasters across the Dooars and Terai regions of North Bengal.
In neighboring Gorumara, Buxa, and Chapramari forests, forest guards have faced similar challenges this monsoon, with roads washed away and bridges damaged. Entire tea garden communities were displaced, and many villages faced prolonged power cuts and food shortages.
Local residents point to the dual problems of deforestation and unregulated tourism as aggravating factors. Hillside cutting, riverbank encroachment, and drainage obstruction have all contributed to worsening flood situations in recent years.
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have identified that the Torsha and Jaldhaka basins exhibit rapidly rising flood peaks due to siltation and sediment deposition — a result of soil erosion upstream and reduced vegetation cover.
The Human and Animal Bond: Elephants as Lifelines
In the chaos of natural calamities, elephants have often been silent saviors in India’s forest belts. Their intelligence, memory, and physical prowess make them uniquely suited for rescue and patrolling duties in flood-prone and inaccessible terrain.
In Jaldapara, these kunkis are not just tourist attractions; they are part of the forest department’s operational team — trained to assist in anti-poaching patrols, forest surveillance, and emergency transport.
The recent incident once again emphasized their importance. Videos captured by tourists show elephants wading chest-deep in brown water, their mahouts guiding them calmly while frightened passengers held onto the ropes tied around their bodies.
This image — of humans relying on elephants to cross a river — speaks volumes about coexistence and trust. In a world that often sidelines animals, these forest elephants emerged as the unlikely heroes of a human crisis.
The Lessons from the Deluge
The Alipurduar flood and the dramatic elephant rescue bring forward urgent lessons that extend beyond one forest or one storm:
- Strengthening Forest Infrastructure
Roads, bridges, and tourist lodges in flood-prone zones must be built with durable materials and raised elevations to withstand recurring monsoons. - Disaster Preparedness for Tourists
Tourism operators and forest departments should jointly maintain real-time updates on weather conditions, ensuring that safaris and stays are suspended at the first sign of flood alerts. - Early Warning Systems
Installation of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and river-level sensors across the Dooars region could help predict floods and alert both locals and visitors. - Animal Welfare During Rescue Operations
While elephants played a vital role, their welfare must remain a top priority — operations should ensure they are not overburdened or exposed to extreme conditions beyond necessity. - Community Training and Local Awareness
Residents and staff of eco-tourism centers need training in emergency evacuation, first aid, and communication during natural disasters. - Climate-Resilient Planning
The pattern of floods in North Bengal demands integrated planning that combines hydrology, ecology, and sustainable tourism management.
Voices from the Ground: Fear, Faith, and Gratitude
When the floodwaters finally began to recede and tourists reached the main road, relief was written across every face. Some cried, some laughed nervously, and many took photos of the elephants that had just carried them across a river that could have taken their lives.
“It was nature’s test,” said one elderly traveler from Howrah. “We were terrified, but when I saw the elephant move through the water so steadily, I felt safe. That animal saved me.”
Mahouts, too, shared stories of their companions’ instincts. One recalled how his elephant stopped abruptly during the crossing — only to reveal moments later that the riverbed ahead had a deep trough.
For the forest staff, it was another day of duty — but one that reaffirmed why working with nature, not against it, remains key to survival in the wilderness.
The Way Forward: Building Resilience in North Bengal’s Forest Belt
The elephant rescue at Jaldapara has captured national attention, not only for its drama but also for what it symbolizes — the enduring tension between nature’s beauty and its unpredictability.
As climate change intensifies, North Bengal’s flood profile is expected to worsen, with heavier monsoon bursts, higher river discharge, and faster erosion. The need for robust infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and coordinated management between tourism, forest, and disaster departments has never been more pressing.
This event must serve as a turning point — a reminder that while nature offers breathtaking experiences, it also demands respect, foresight, and humility.
Conclusion: An Unforgettable Journey Through Fear and Faith
The tourists who rode elephants to safety in Alipurduar will carry the memory for life — the rumble of water below, the creak of the saddle, the rhythmic sway of the elephant as it moved through the flood.
It was a story of coexistence, courage, and survival — where human helplessness met animal instinct in perfect harmony. But it was also a warning from nature: that beauty comes with risk, and that without preparedness, every paradise can become perilous overnight.
As the elephants trudged out of the flood, their trunks held high against the murky current, they carried more than people — they carried a lesson, a symbol, and a story that the Dooars will remember for years to come.
External Sources:
- Jaldapara National Park – Government of West Bengal Forest Department
- National Disaster Management Authority – Flood Preparedness and Risk Mitigation in India
- Indian Meteorological Department – Rainfall and Flood Forecasts for North Bengal
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Geological Survey of India – Flood and Landslide Hazard Mapping in Dooars Region
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