This was the moment a driver in India reversed his vehicle in panic as a wild elephant chased after him.

Visuals shows the man driving back in speed to escape the pursuing elephant, which picked up speed and attacked the vehicle. Luckily, the elephant left on its own without injuring the driver and the others in the vehicle.

"The elephant attacked the bonnet with its tusks and broke the glass, the staff luckily managed to escape," said an official.

The terrifying incident took place at Veeranahosahalli on the outskirts of Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka on Wednesday (January 15).

This was the moment a driver reversed his vehicle in panic as a wild elephant chased him.

The man drove back in speed but was unable to escape the rampaging elephant, which attacked the vehicle and damaged it.

Luckily, the elephant left on its own without injuring the driver and the others in the vehicle.

The terrifying incident took place at Veeranahosahalli on the outskirts of Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka on January 15.

Villagers complained to officials that a wild elephant had come out of the forest and was raiding their crops. Forest officials went in a vehicle to drive the elephant back to the forest.

But their attempts only infuriated the elephant, which got into a rage and turned on them.

The driver drove in reverse for nearly half a kilometre to escape the pursuing elephant, which picked up speed and caught up with them. "The elephant attacked the bonnet with its tusks and broke the glass, the staff luckily managed to escape," said an official.

The officials later regrouped and managed to drive the elephant back to the forest.