Amreli: A five-year-old boy was tragically killed in a lioness attack on Wednesday night in Chaturi village of Khambha taluka in Amreli. The lioness attacked the child while he was accompanying his grandfather to deliver milk and dragged him into the nearby forest. Following the incident, the Forest Department launched a nine-hour rescue operation and captured five lions.

The deceased, Gian Devkumbhai Prathu (5), was reportedly walking with his grandfather at night when a lioness suddenly emerged from the darkness and attacked him. Before the grandfather could react, the lioness dragged the boy into the nearby forest.

After learning about the incident, villagers rushed to the spot with sticks and attempted to rescue the child. However, his blood-soaked body was found about one kilometre away from the village.

Senior Forest Department officials, including Gir East DCF Vikas Yadav and ACF Kapil Bhatia, rushed to the spot. The child’s body was sent to Khambha Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The Forest Department carried out a search and rescue operation for nearly nine hours in and around the area. During the operation, one lioness was tranquilised and caged, while a total of five lions were captured.

According to the Forest Department, the remains of the child were found in the vomit of one of the captured male lions. The remains have been sent for forensic examination. Samples from the other captured lions have also been collected and will be analysed.

The incident has angered the residents of Chaturi village, who have accused the Forest Department of negligence, alleging that despite frequent lion movement near the village, adequate safety measures have not been put in place.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department appealed to people living near forest areas not to venture out alone after dusk or in the dark. Residents have been advised to move in groups and carry torches and sticks while stepping out at night. The incident is the latest in a series of lion attacks reported from the Gir region in recent weeks. DeshGujarat