Junagadh: A tragic incident unfolded on Girnar hill early on Saturday morning when a 12-year-old boy, Mayur, was attacked and killed by a lion while climbing the steps of the holy mountain with his family. The family, from Modaj village in Mehmedabad taluka of Kheda district, had come to Girnar on a pilgrimage. Following the incident, teams from the Forest Department and police rushed to the spot, and access to the main staircase has been temporarily suspended as a precaution.

According to the boy’s uncle, Anilkumar, the family had climbed around 50 steps from the main entrance when a lion suddenly emerged from the darkness, attacked Mayur from behind, and dragged him into the nearby forest. The incident left pilgrims at the site in a state of panic.

Family members and local residents immediately launched a search operation. During the search, the child’s shoes, clothes, and some body remains were recovered from the forest, the family said.

The family has blamed the administration for inadequate safety measures, alleging that the Girnar steps lack proper lighting, making it difficult to detect the presence of wild animals before dawn. They have demanded better lighting along the route and the deployment of Forest Department personnel at regular intervals.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department has formed multiple teams to trace the lion, and cages have been placed near the incident site to capture the animal. Locals have also alleged that the Range Forest Officer (RFO) reached the spot nearly two hours after the incident. DeshGujarat