What began as an adventurous excursion at Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park turned into a nightmare after a group of tourists, including women and children, were left stranded for nearly an hour and a half in the forest, which is home to tigers, after their safari vehicle broke down. The guide allegedly fled the scene.
According to NDTV, the incident occurred around 6.00 pm in Zone 6 of the park, an area known to be home to over 60 tigers along with leopards, sloth bears, and marsh crocodiles. According to the stranded tourists, the guide initially claimed he was going to fetch another vehicle, but never returned. They also alleged that he misbehaved with the group before disappearing.
The viral video shows the tourists scattered around in the dark, and children attempting to navigate using their mobile phone flashlights. The group remained stuck in the dense forest until approximately 7.30 pm, when a rescue team finally arrived, the report said.
Watch here:
The video, shared by @jaipurbuzz on Instagram, quickly gained traction, amassing a range of reactions. “I guess the guide did well, went back to get a backup…. most of the time, network connectivity does not work inside the park,” a user wrote. “Same thing happened to us 8 years ago at Jim Corbett. I can still feel that fear. It was around 6:30 PM, almost dark. If your vehicle breaks down, without any help and network jungle becomes damn scary at night,” another user commented.
“Same thing happened with us at pilibhit tiger safari. For half an hour or so v were stuck in the middle of the jungle with no driver, no guide nd no network. Thankfully no tigers,” a third user reacted.
Responding to the incident, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve’s Field Director and Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Anoop K R emphasised that tourist safety remains paramount. “The safety of tourists in the park is the top priority. Strict action will be taken against any guide or driver who violates the rules, and such negligence will not be tolerated in future,” NDTV quoted him as saying.