Gujarat : Lion Tears Apart Migrant Worker in Amreli, Fear and Fury Erupt in Villages Near Gir

Amreli : A horrifying lion attack in Gujarat’s Amreli district has sent shockwaves across the region after a migrant worker was allegedly killed and partially eaten by a lion near Kovaya village in Rajula taluka. The gruesome incident, in which only the victim’s skull and bone fragments were recovered, has triggered widespread panic and renewed concerns over increasing human-wildlife conflict in areas surrounding the Gir lion habitat.

The deceased has been identified as Prakash Chandra, a native of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, who was employed at a local hotel-restaurant. According to local sources, Chandra had left his workplace late at night and was heading home when he was ambushed by a lion reportedly hiding near a tent on the outskirts of Kovaya village.

The predator allegedly dragged the victim into nearby bushes and mauled him. By the time locals and authorities reached the spot the following morning, only the half-eaten head and scattered rib bones remained. The disturbing sight left villagers shaken and sparked outrage against the forest department.

Anger among residents intensified as locals claimed lion sightings have become routine. “Lions roam here like stray dogs. There are five to seven companies operating in this area, with workers travelling day and night. People on foot or two-wheelers have no safety. Even now, eight lions are sitting near the company gate,” said Amrubhai Wagh, an employee of a private firm in the region.

Kovaya village Sarpanch Jhinabhai Lakhannotra demanded immediate intervention from the state government. “This is not the first such tragedy. Earlier, a similar incident occurred in nearby Bhakodar village. The government must recruit more local trackers and provide immediate financial assistance to the victim’s family. If concrete steps are not taken, villagers will be forced to launch a strong protest,” he warned.

Following the attack, the forest department launched a massive rescue operation. Teams of wildlife experts and veterinarians cordoned off the area amid fears that multiple lions, including a lioness, were present in the dense acacia thickets surrounding the site. Officials successfully tranquilized and captured one suspected man-eating lion within hours, while search operations continue for other lions believed to have been involved.

Authorities have urged residents not to venture alone into border areas after dark and to exercise extreme caution.

The incident comes at a sensitive time for Gujarat’s lion population. Over the past two weeks, around a dozen lions reportedly died in parts of the Gir landscape due to a suspected disease outbreak. While state authorities have maintained that the situation is under control, the latest fatal attack has intensified scrutiny over wildlife management and public safety in lion-dominated regions.

As fear spreads across villages and industrial zones near Gir, residents are demanding long-term measures to ensure that coexistence with Asia’s last wild lion population does not come at the cost of human lives.