12-Year-Old Boy Killed in Lion Attack on Girnar Steps

JUNAGADH :  A pilgrimage to the sacred Girnar mountain ended in unimaginable horror on Saturday morning when a 12-year-old boy was dragged away and killed by a lion, triggering widespread panic and raising serious questions over visitor safety at one of Gujarat’s busiest religious destinations.

The victim, Mayursinh, from Modaj village in Kheda district, was climbing the Girnar steps with his family when the attack occurred barely 50 steps from the entrance gate. According to relatives, the lion emerged from the darkness without warning, seized the child by his hand and disappeared into the nearby forest.

Despite desperate efforts by family members and forest officials, only the boy’s clothes, shoes and partial remains were recovered. Forest Department teams, police and wildlife trackers launched a massive operation and captured one lion. Veterinary examination reportedly found human body parts in the animal’s vomit, while two more suspected lions have also been captured and shifted to Sakkarbaug Zoo for investigation.

The incident marks the ninth lion attack in just 46 days, with eight fatalities and one serious injury, intensifying concerns over the growing frequency of human-lion conflict in Gujarat.

The child’s grieving grandfather broke down, saying, “He was our only grandson. Can the government bring him back?” His uncle, Anilkumarsinh Chauhan, blamed poor infrastructure for the tragedy.

“There is no proper lighting on the Girnar steps. Wild animals remain hidden in the darkness. Forest personnel should be deployed at regular intervals to prevent such incidents,” he said.

Another eyewitness, Sandeepbhai, claimed locals had spotted the lion near the pilgrimage route for the past three to four days.

Following the attack, authorities suspended movement on the main Girnar staircase while forest officials intensified surveillance. The incident has reignited demands for stronger safety measures to protect thousands of pilgrims visiting Girnar every day.