Fifteen tourists had a close call when their bus caught fire during a lion safari at Nahargarh Biological Park in Jaipur. Forest officials quickly evacuated everyone safely, though the vehicle was completely destroyed. Authorities attributed the blaze to a short circuit.
The incident unfolded around 3:30 pm on Sunday during a lion safari at Nahargarh Biological Park. Smoke filled the bus carrying 15 tourists, causing panic, but the driver and staff alerted the control room via wireless, prompting a swift response from a forest department team including a ranger to evacuate everyone safely.
Moments after the evacuation, the smoke erupted into flames, engulfing the bus. The park's fire engine attempted to douse the blaze, but as it intensified, an additional engine was summoned from Amber. By the time it arrived, the vehicle was fully ablaze. Deputy Conservator of Forests Vijay Pal Singh stated, "The fire was caused by a short circuit. We are investigating the matter. As soon as we learned of the incident, our teams rushed to the scene and rescued the tourists. No one was injured."
Singh added that no action has been taken yet regarding vehicle maintenance negligence. This is the second major incident at the park in the past month and a half, highlighting concerns over safety protocols. Environmental lawyer Vaibhav Pancholy, a member of the Nahargarh Bachao Samiti, remarked, "Vehicles used in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and leopard reserves are extremely old and poorly maintained by the forest department. They pose hazards to both tourism and the environment. As per Supreme Court guidelines in the TN Godavarman case, electric vehicles should be promoted for safaris to ensure zero pollution, alongside limiting their daily use. This Nahargarh incident demands an inquiry due to its serious implications for the environment and tourism."
Spanning 720 hectares, the park lies about 12 km from Jaipur along the Jaipur-Delhi highway in the Aravalli range. It forms part of the Nahargarh sanctuary and is renowned for its diverse flora and fauna.