Tigers chase tourists in Chhattisgarh, foresters sacked

According to forest department officials, the video was shot on Friday while a group of tourists was on a safari in the jungle. Spotting two tigers, the bus reportedly stopped and one of the tourists tried to come out of the bus they were travelling in.

Updated on: Feb 17, 2020, 03:15:57 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Two employees of a government-run jungle safari in Raipur were terminated from service on Sunday. The move came a day after a video of two tigers chasing a tourist bus inside the safari went viral on social media.

The video was shot by a group of tourists on Friday. (HT Photo)

According to forest department officials, the video was shot on Friday while a group of tourists was on a safari in the jungle. Spotting two tigers, the bus reportedly stopped and one of the tourists tried to come out of the bus they were travelling in.

“Seeing him, the tiger rushed towards the bus. The tourist ran inside the bus and tried to shut the door but a window curtain fell and jammed the door,” said a forest department official not willing to be named. In the video, one of the tigers could be seeing trying to catch the piece of cloth sticking out and then chasing the bus for some time.

The official said that the bus should not have stopped inside the safari and the visitor should not have been allowed to disembark. District forest officer (DFO) Mercy Bela said the department has taken cognizance of the incident and terminated services of two contractual employees. “Forest guide Naveen Puraina and driver Om Prakash Bharti were removed from service,” the DFO said, adding no harm to animals or tourists was reported.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (wildlife), Atul Shukla, said an enquiry had been ordered. “Director of the jungle safari will head the enquiry and will submit a report as soon as possible,” Shukla said.

The jungle safari in the outskirts of Raipur and spread over 270 hectares has about 125 cheetals, five black bucks, 20 chital, nine barking dears, 20 nilgai, five bears, four tigers and seven lions at present.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More