This is the moment an elephant packs its trunk and moves into a posh city suburb in northern India.

Footage of the invasion – filmed in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand state, on 22nd August – shows the wild tusker running through the narrow streets after dark.

As locals scream in terror, the elephant – with ears spread wide as a warning sign – rampages along the roads just a whisker away from crashing into buildings.

Apparently lost, the huge jungle beast looks as if it seems to be trying to find its way out.

And as the elephant runs past one home with just inches to spare, one woman can be heard in the background shouting: “Oh my god.”

The footage, which made its way online, has been doing the rounds on social media.

The invasion is said to be the second by an elephant in just a week.

Local media said the confused beast trudged through the streets for some time before finding a way out of the maze-like neighbourhood.

Experts say more wild elephants are appearing in cities because extreme floods have hit the forests they normally inhabit.

Monsoon rains in the area had been exceptionally heavy in the days leading up to the latest sighting.

Local media also report that wild animals often stray into cities in search of food or water as their habitats are lost and as human populations grow.

One social media user joked that it was a message from the elephant-headed Hindu god of luck and wisdom.

He wrote: “Ganesha is coming.”