Patana, Jul 30: A wild tusker got trapped in a mud-filled trench inside a forest in Odisha's Keonjhar district before successfully rescuing itself after a prolonged struggle, officials said.

The incident took place in the Patna Forest Range, where a herd of around 25 elephants was moving through the Baunshuli forest. During the movement, one of the tuskers slipped into a trench dug by the Forest Department and became stuck in thick mud.

The elephant repeatedly tried to climb out but failed as its hind legs remained firmly trapped in the mud. It struggled for a considerable period before finally managing to free itself from the trench after persistent efforts.

After escaping, the tusker walked onto National Highway-49 near Baunshuli and remained standing on the road for some time. The animal's presence led to a temporary disruption of traffic, with vehicles coming to a halt on both sides of the highway as a precaution.

Motorists waited patiently until the elephant moved away from the road and returned towards the forest. Traffic resumed soon afterwards without any untoward incident.