An evening safari turned into a harrowing ordeal for an elderly couple and their friend when their vehicle broke down in the core zone of Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) on May 20, leaving them stranded for over two hours in complete darkness, surrounded by wildlife.
The tourists — Kishor Kharde, his wife, and a family friend Javed Ahmad — had entered the reserve via the Chorbahuli Gate at 3 p.m. for a routine jungle safari. However, around 5:30 p.m., their open-top Gypsy suffered a mechanical failure near Compartment No. 98, deep inside the core area of the reserve. Despite multiple efforts by the safari driver and guide, the vehicle could not be restarted.
As per park regulations, mobile phones are not permitted inside the reserve during safaris, cutting off all communication with the outside world. By 6 p.m., all other safari vehicles had exited the forest, leaving the group isolated and vulnerable in tiger territory, which is also home to leopards, bears, and other wild animals.
With nightfall approaching and no way to call for help, the trio began shouting and whistling in a desperate attempt to attract attention. The situation became particularly distressing for Kharde’s wife, a high blood pressure patient, who struggled with anxiety as they waited helplessly in the open vehicle surrounded by tall grass and potential danger.
Relief finally came when forest officials at the entrance gate noticed that only 10 of the 11 safari vehicles had returned. Realizing one was missing, they launched a search operation around 7:30 p.m.
The stranded Gypsy was difficult to spot due to the tall grass in the area, but around 8:30 p.m., the search team located the group and safely escorted them out of the reserve.
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