Ranchi, Feb. 28 -- Residents of Ranchi woke up to a colossal surprise on Friday morning when a wild elephant strayed into the heart of the city's residential zones. The unexpected visitor triggered five hours of widespread panic before being successfully guided back to the safety of the forest.

A police official said the lone tusker was first sighted around 5am near Nagar National Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (NIAMT) and then it was seen navigating the lanes of Hawai Nagar and later moving toward the busy Birsa Chowk area in the heart of the city.

"The timing of the intrusion coinciding with the start of school hours sent parents and authorities into a frenzy. Commuters fled the streets, and residents in affected local...