Residents of a city in eastern India were griped by panic after two wild sloth bears strayed into a residential area on May 18.

Videos of the incident, shot by residents of Jajpur Road in Odisha state, show the bears chasing a few bystanders, who run for their lives.

Eyewitnesses said a few men had provoked the bears by trying to get close to them to take selfies.

An official said the animals had strayed from a nearby forest in search of food.

Officials are camping in the city and have laid traps to catch the bears.