Junagadh: Lili Parikrama of Girnar commenced on Thursday on Devuthi Ekadashi. However, in sad news, an 11-year-old girl died after she was attacked by a leopard on the Parikrama route earlier this morning.

In what might be the first such incident of a wild animal attack on a pilgrim during the annual Lili Parikrama, an 11-year-old named Payal Laxmanbhai Sakhan was dragged away by a leopard in the Bawar Kot area of Bordevi in the early morning hours. Despite an extensive search by the family in the forest, the baby girl and the panther could not be located. Subsequently, the family informed the forest department. Upon receiving the news, the forest department arrived and initiated efforts to locate the girl. During their investigation, the girl’s lifeless body was found. The deceased girl hails from Amreli district.

The news of this incident has spread rapidly, casting a shadow of terror over the entire parikrama route, with the family members of the deceased girl grieving.

It’s worth noting that the Green Parikrama of Girnar is a 5-day-long event that started on November 23 and is expected to be attended by over a million people. The entire route of around 36 kms passes through the dense jungles of Girnar Mountain. This incident has created fear among the pilgrims and also raised questions about the preparations of the forest department to move the animals away from the route. DeshGujarat