Junagadh: A tragic chain of events unfolded here after a four-year-old boy was mauled to death by a lioness in Nani Monpari village of Visavadar taluka on Sunday, followed by the death of a forest department tracker. The forest tracker died after a tranquiliser gun misfired and hit him during the lion capture operation.

The incident occurred in the early hours of January 4 in Nani Monpari village, located on the fringes of the Gir forest. The child, belonging to a family of agricultural labourers, reportedly went missing in the morning. His blood-soaked body was later found in nearby fields by forest officials. Clear injury marks and deep wounds confirmed a lioness attack.

Following the incident, the Forest Department immediately launched a rescue operation and summoned a special team from Sasan to capture the lioness, amid growing fear among villagers.

According to forest officials, information was received around 4 pm that the lioness was hiding in a tuver field. More than 30 forest personnel, including an expert rescue team equipped with a tranquiliser gun, rushed to the spot. During the operation, as the team attempted to sedate the lioness, a tragic mishap occurred. The dart fired from the tranquiliser gun got deflected after hitting the crop plants and accidentally struck forest tracker Ashrafbhai Alibhai Chauhan (aged 30, resident of Rajpara) on his upper left arm above the elbow. He was first shifted to Visavadar Government Hospital and later referred to Junagadh Civil Hospital through 108 emergency services, where he sadly passed away during treatment early today.

Forest officials explained that the tranquiliser dosage is calculated based on the weight of large animals such as lions, which can weigh over 200 kg. The same dose proved fatal for the human body, officials said, terming the incident an extremely unfortunate accident. This is believed to be the first such case in the district where a forest worker died after being accidentally hit by a tranquiliser dart during a rescue operation.

Confirming the incident, Ram Ratan Nala, Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh, said two tragic incidents occurred within a short span, the death of a child in a lioness attack and the death of a tracker during the subsequent rescue operation. He said an internal review would be conducted to ascertain the exact circumstances of the mishap.

Chauhan had been working as a tracker under the Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society in the Visavadar Range of Gir West Division for the last two years, engaged in wildlife monitoring and rescue operations. His family will be provided ₹5 lakh from the Swargiya Vishana Memorial Gir Forest Staff Welfare Association (Sasan-Gir) Cooperative. In addition, a proposal has been made to pay ₹10 lakh accident insurance compensation to his legal heirs.

Expressing deep grief over the incident, Forest and Environment Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia conveyed condolences to the bereaved family. The investigation of the entire incident has been handed over to Prashant Tomar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gir West Division, Junagadh. The Minister has further directed officials to send a proposal for additional assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. DeshGujarat