A group of tourists at Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park went through a terrifying ordeal when their safari vehicle broke down deep inside tiger territory and help failed to arrive for over an hour.
According to reports, the group, which included women and children, was left stranded in Zone 6 of the park, known for its dense forest and high tiger population, after their canter came to a halt around 6 PM.
What followed was a 90-minute wait in the middle of the jungle as night began to fall.
According to the tourists, the guide accompanying them claimed he was going to get another vehicle but never returned. The group alleged that the guide misbehaved with them before leaving the site.
Videos shot by the tourists quickly surfaced on social media, showing visibly distressed children crying in the dark and using phone torches for light, with the sounds of the jungle growing louder around them.
Ranthambore के जंगल में फंसे पर्यटक, अंधेरा होने पर घबराई महिलाएं, रोने लगे बच्चे pic.twitter.com/PAo4NbHgS8
— Rajasthan Patrika (@rpbreakingnews) August 17, 2025
Ranthambore, one of India’s most visited national parks, is home to more than 60 tigers, along with leopards, sloth bears, marsh crocodiles and other wildlife. The fear of an animal encounter grew as daylight faded and the group remained without any official support. Rescue finally arrived at around 7:30 PM, ending the ordeal.
The incident quickly drew public attention, raising serious questions about safety protocols in one of the country’s top wildlife destinations.
Officials from the forest department confirmed the incident and assured that the safety of visitors remains a priority. The park’s Field Director has stated that strict action will be taken against the guide or any other staff found guilty of negligence. An internal inquiry is underway.
