Tragedy in Gir: Two-year-old girl killed in lioness attack, animal trapped

A shocking and heartbreaking incident in Gir-Gadhada taluka’s Pichhvi village has left the entire region shaken. A lioness that strayed into a residential area dragged away a two-year-old girl from outside her house and killed her nearly a kilometre away, all in front of her helpless mother.

The incident occurred around 10.30 am on Wednesday. Aaradhya, the daughter of Harsukhbhai Makwana, was playing near the house while her mother Bhartiben, was washing utensils. Suddenly, a lioness emerged from the nearby forest, grabbed the child, and bolted towards the jungle.

Hearing the child’s cries, her mother and relatives ran after the lioness, screaming for help, but were unable to save her. Nearly a kilometre away, the lioness abandoned the girl’s body and fled.

Forest officials rushed to the spot immediately, launched a rapid operation, and successfully trapped the lioness within hours. Aaradhya’s body has been sent for post-mortem, and the department has initiated compensation procedures for the family.