In a heartbreaking incident from Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur, a 7-year-old child was attacked and dragged away by a tiger near the famous Trinetra Ganesh Temple inside Ranthambore National Park on Wednesday. The child had traveled from Bundi with his grandmother and uncle for a religious visit.

According to initial reports, the boy was walking slightly ahead of his grandmother on the temple route when a tiger suddenly emerged from the forest. Within seconds, the big cat pounced on the child and dragged him away into the dense jungle. Onlookers tried their best to rescue the child, but the tiger vanished swiftly into the wild.

The forest department launched an immediate search operation upon receiving the distress call. After a thorough search, the child's lifeless body was discovered near the attack site in the nearby forest area.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, raising serious concerns about visitor safety at the popular pilgrimage destination, which attracts large crowds on Wednesdays. Notably, the Ranthambore National Park remains closed for safaris on Wednesdays, allowing a surge of local devotees to visit the Trinetra Ganesh Temple on foot.

Cabinet Minister Kirori Lal Meena, after hearing about the tragic event, rushed to the district hospital to meet the grieving family. He expressed deep condolences and assured the family of all possible support.

Forest officials confirmed that the child’s remains were recovered and transported to the hospital’s mortuary for postmortem examination. According to an eyewitness, “The child was walking ahead when the tiger suddenly appeared and attacked. It all happened so fast that nobody could save him.”

This incident is another grim reminder of the growing human-wildlife conflict around Ranthambore, which has witnessed multiple similar attacks in recent years. Locals and tourists alike are demanding stricter safety protocols to avoid such heartbreaking losses in the future.