Rajkot: Panic gripped residents along Babrakot Road in Jafrabad town after a lion went on a rampage, attacking a motorcyclist and chasing a rickshaw before collapsing and dying under suspicious circumstances. The sequence of events, which unfolded near the forest office of Jafrabad range, left the area tense and raised questions about the cause of the animal’s sudden death.According to forest officials, the lion first attacked a passing motorcyclist, identified as Vishal Baraiya, leaving him with minor claw injuries. Following the attack, local residents alerted forest authorities, who rushed to the spot and shifted the injured man to a hospital.Witnesses said the lion continued to behave aggressively and later chased a rickshaw on the road. In the ensuing panic, the rickshaw overturned, although no serious injuries were reported. The incidents created fear among commuters and residents in the area.Considering the threat to public safety, forest officials temporarily halted traffic movement and cordoned off the area. A veterinary team was called in and preparations were underway to tranquilise the animal.However, before the rescue operation could begin, the lion reportedly suffered severe convulsions and died in front of forest department personnel.Forest officials suspect the lion may have been suffering from rabies, citing its unusually aggressive behaviour, though they stressed that it remained a preliminary assessment. The carcass was shifted to the Babrakot Animal Care Centre, where samples were collected for laboratory testing.Shetrunji Division DCF Chirag Amin said the exact cause of death will be determined only after the test reports are received.
