A video of bus passengers offering water to a group of thirsty monkeys amid an intense heatwave in Maharashtra has gone viral on social media, drawing attention to the impact of extreme summer conditions on wildlife.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 21 at Khandala Ghat when a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus travelling on the Washim-Pusad route reached the ghat section.
It so happened that a monkey suddenly appeared on the road and stood in front of the bus, briefly halting its movement. As passengers and the driver tried to move it aside, the animal did not leave the spot.
Passengers soon realised the monkey appeared to be dehydrated in the scorching heat and offered it water from a bottle. As it began drinking, several other monkeys emerged from the nearby forest, appearing visibly thirsty and gathering around the bus.
Moved by the situation, passengers then offered their own water bottles to the animals. The entire incident was recorded on a mobile phone by passenger Lata Shrivas, and the video has since circulated widely online.
However, the incident has also raised concerns about the availability of drinking water for wild animals in forested and ghat regions during peak summer.
While the Forest Department has stated that water arrangements are made at several locations for wildlife, the video has prompted questions about the effectiveness of these measures on the ground.
Locals and viewers have urged authorities to strengthen monitoring of water sources in wildlife corridors, especially during heatwave conditions.
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(With inputs from Bhaskar Mehare)
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