Leopard claws woman on safari bus at Bannerghatta; Non-AC safari halted after safety lapse

Chennai woman injured after a leopard managed to reach through a gap in a safari bus mesh; Bannerghatta Park suspends non-AC leopard safari for full safety audit.

A safari ride at Bannerghatta National Park turned alarming on Thursday when a leopard leapt onto a safari bus and clawed a passenger through the mesh window, leaving her injured. The woman, Vahitha Banu (56), a resident of Chennai, suffered injuries to her hand and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Jigani. Doctors have confirmed that she is in stable condition.

The incident occurred around 1 pm during a scheduled leopard safari. According to forest officials, Banu first received on-site first aid before being shifted to a private hospital for further treatment.

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A video of the incident, now circulating widely on social media, shows the leopard suddenly climbing onto the moving safari bus and attempting to attack through the window opening. The safari buses are fitted with metal wire mesh to prevent animals from making direct contact with visitors. However, officials revealed that a small gap in the mesh allowed the leopard to slip its paw inside and scratch the woman.

Authorities also stated that safari vehicle drivers had been previously cautioned after an earlier leopard attack inside the park. They were instructed to strictly follow safety protocols during the leopard safari trips, raising fresh concerns about compliance.

Following the incident, the park management issued an official statement announcing an indefinite suspension of the non-AC bus safari. The decision was taken to ensure a complete safety assessment of all safari vehicles.

“The buses will be assessed for complete safety during the downtime. Inconvenience caused to visitors is regretted,” the statement read.