[Video] Tiger tries to grab curtain of tourist bus on jungle safari in Raipur, scares passengers

Mirror Now Digital
Reviewed By Kriti Mehta
Authored by Mirror Now Digital
Updated Feb 17, 2020 | 19:16 IST

Nandanvan Jungle Safari Director, M Mercy Bella, said that the tour guide and the driver should have halted the vehicle instead of accelerating. Both safari staff have been sacked.

Tiger chase bus
The authorities have also issued a show-cause notice to a forest guard in charge of the tourist vehicle.  |  Photo Credit: Twitter

Key Highlights

  • Safari officials say driver and tour guide have flouted the norms
  • The scary incident took place in Nandanvan Jungle Safari in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh
  • After the video of the incident went viral, senior officials sacked the bus driver and tour guide

Raipur: A video of a tiger dangerously chasing a tourist bus has emerged from Nandanvan Jungle Safari in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Authorities have dismissed two officials for flouting safety protocols.    

The incident took place on February 14 (Friday) when a group of tourists part of a jungle safari, saw the two tigers fighting and one of them suddenly tried to grab a curtain of the bus they were travelling in. 

Tiger attack on the bus

According to a report in news agency PTI, a tourist requested the bus driver to accelerate as the big cat tried to attack the vehicle. After this, the tiger gave a long chase to the bus. After the video of the incident went viral, senior officials sacked the bus driver and the tour guide. 

According to Nandanvan Jungle Safari Director, M Mercy Bella, "After the incident came to our notice, we have terminated the services of the bus driver Omprakash Bharti and tour guide Naveen Puraina. The two appeared to have flouted the safari's standard protocols."    

 

 

The official said that the preliminary probe suggests that video was shot by the tour guide. "The two safari staff have flouted the protocols. The tour guides and the drivers are trained to ensure that the tourists and animals are safe. The driver, instead of speeding the vehicle, should have stopped and waited for the situation to normalise," Bella added. The authorities have also issued a show-cause notice to a forest guard in charge of the tourist vehicle.

Sultana chasing tourist vehicle

A similar incident took place in the Ranthambore National Park where a tigress chased a tourist vehicle. The tigress was identified as Sultana, by the code T-107. However, animal lovers had said that the big cat was just trying to play and not chase the vehicle. 

 

 

The incident had taken place in Zone 1 of the Ranthambhore National Park. Some analysts said that wild animals losing their natural habitat is a cause of worry in Ranthambhore National Park. Reports suggested that the national park has a good tiger population and more than its carrying capacity.

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