Rajkot: In a dramatic turn to a reported “lion attack” death in Amreli, forest officials have ruled out any mauling, saying the motorcyclist died after falling from his bike while trying to avoid a rabid lion whose abnormal behaviour triggered panic on a coastal road.The forest department said the incident occurred Sunday on Babarkot Road in Jafrabad taluka when Vinu Bariya, riding a motorcycle, suddenly encountered a lion on the road. Startled by the unexpected sight, Bariya braked sharply, lost control and fell.Officials clarified that Bariya suffered injuries from parts of his motorcycle, not from an attack by the animal. He later told forest personnel that the lion had not injured him. Medical reports also did not indicate wounds consistent with a lion attack, officials added.After the fall, the lion displayed erratic behaviour and reportedly chased an autorickshaw, causing it to overturn. Authorities quickly shut the road to traffic and called in a veterinary team to tranquilize and capture the animal.Before any capture operation could begin, the lion died. A subsequent examination confirmed it had rabies — which officials said explained its unusual and aggressive behaviour.The forest department has urged motorists and residents in lion habitats to remain alert, avoid approaching wild animals and refrain from moving about alone at night, warning that these actions can prove risky.
