The footage shows a herd of wild elephants running for their lives after being startled by loud firecrackers during a festival.

In the first video, the group of 20 animals and their calves can be seen drinking water at a pond in Aanakkulam, a popular tourist spot in the Idukki district, in India’s Kerala State.

But just seconds later they stormed to hide in the nearby forest, after hearing firecrackers burst during the annual festival of Anakulam St Joseph’s Church at around 4pm on 27th January.

Animal rights activist M. N. Jayachandran said: “As the organisers burst crackers, the elephants were terrified and ran helter-skelter.

“The waterhole is located just 100 metres (328 feet) away from the road and tourists had gathered to watch the elephants.

“The spot is located inside the reserve forest and there is no fencing to stop the elephants from entering human habitations.

“Had the panicked elephants run towards the road it would have ended in a disaster.”

Meanwhile, Indian media revealed that the forest department has still not booked a case after the incident.

Kuttampuzha forest ranger Bineesh Kumar said: “There is a temple and a church in the area.

“The local residents burst crackers during the festival. We haven’t received any complaint in this regard.”