Rajkot: A 45-year-old woman, Manju Solanki, died after being attacked by a lioness while washing clothes in a river in Govindpur village of Dhari taluka on Monday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 3:30 pm in the village, which falls under the Dalkhaniya range of the Gir East forest division. According to Deputy Conservator of Forests Vikas Yadav, the woman and the lioness suddenly came into close contact, following which the animal attacked and grabbed her leg.

Hearing her cries, nearby workers rushed to the spot, prompting the lioness to flee. Solanki, who had suffered severe blood loss, was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Forest officials later captured the lioness suspected to be responsible for the attack. Authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances, including whether the animal had cubs nearby.

Amreli district frequently witnesses the movement of Asiatic lions near human settlements. Officials estimate that around 300 lions regularly traverse revenue land close to villages, heightening the risk of human–wildlife encounters and causing concern among residents and migrant workers. DeshGujarat