Overview
- Forest officials say a lion attacked and dragged a boy who was climbing the new Girnar stairway with his family near the 50th step on Saturday, July 11, 2026, and partial remains and the child’s belongings were later recovered.
- Rescue teams tranquilised and captured multiple lions that were seen near the stairway and shifted them to Sakkarbaug Zoo for veterinary and forensic examination after one animal vomited material that contained human tissue.
- The new stairway has been closed and pilgrims are being diverted to the older route while forest teams continue searches of the adjoining sanctuary for any other big cats in the area.
- State forest ministers have ordered a formal probe, called a review of standard operating procedures for human‑lion conflict, and officials say the victim’s family will receive compensation under the state policy for wildlife‑attack deaths.
- The attack adds to a cluster of recent lion incidents in Gujarat that have increased overlap between people and the expanding Asiatic lion range and prompted talks of stepped‑up patrols, lighting and possible fencing along heavily used pilgrimage steps.