Tiger Attacks 2 Men On Motorcycle, Drags And Kills 1 Passenger While The Other Escapes

Two men were attacked by a tiger while riding a motorcycle near a wildlife reserve in India. The pillion rider was dragged into the forest where he was later found dead and mutilated, while the other man managed to escape with minor injuries.

The two victims, identified as Mohd Anas and Afsarul Un Ahmad, were returning from a day trip at around 8:30 p.m. on July 16 when the incident took place. A tiger pounced on them as they were traveling through the fringes of Corbett Tiger Reserve, a wildlife reserve in Uttarakhand, Northern India, the Times of India reported.

Anas, who was driving the bike, was able to flee. Unfortunately, Ahmad, who was riding a pillion at the time, failed to escape. The latter's mutilated body was discovered in the forest, 300 meters meters away from the scene, Sunday, according to a follow-up report from the outlet.

Anas recalled the incident, noting that he witnessed how the animal snatched Ahmad. "The tiger suddenly attacked us while we were on our way and our vehicle lost balance and we both fell to the ground," he told the outlet. "I moved to the other side but I saw that the tiger had grabbed Ahmad and dragged him inside the jungle."

Anas immediately notified the local forest safety department following the incident. The authorities scoured the vicinity but were unable to locate Ahmad on the same day. They returned to the area Sunday morning, and it was then that they found Ahmad's remains. Next to him were his shoes and bag.

Ranger Sekhar Tewari said Ahmad's body and belongings were turned over to the police, adding that officials were also sent to the nearby school to ensure the safety of its students. "Fourteen camera traps have been installed to monitor the tiger's movement," he added, as per the outlet. "Regular patrols are also being carried out by the rangers."

The incident sparked protests among local residents, who raised concerns about the functioning of the forest department officials, Times Now News reported. They claimed that prior to the attack, they had already informed authorities about three or four tigers roaming in the area but had not seen any action.

This is reportedly the third incident of a tiger attack in the wildlife reserve, which is home to more than 200 tigers. Another motorcyclist was killed by a tiger in the area on June 15. In the same week, two other riders became the victims of another tiger attack.