GUWAHATI: Two tourists, a woman and a child, sustained minor injuries during a jeep safari in the Western Range of Kaziranga National Park on January 3. The incident occurred around 4 PM near the elephant riding point of the Bagori Range.
The injuries were reported after the tourists fell from a safari vehicle (WR-114) while it was allegedly being driven at high speed. According to the Forest Guard on duty, Marsida Begum, the driver, Arman Hussain, accelerated the vehicle suddenly due to a rhinoceros chasing it.
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Begum, who was accompanying another vehicle, immediately rushed to the spot to assist the injured tourists. Following instructions, she transported them to Kuthori for medical treatment. A team from the range later arrived at the medical centre to follow up on the situation.
The injured tourists were identified as Hussain’s family members.
Both sustained minor injuries and received prompt medical attention. Hussain, the driver and owner of the vehicle (Registration number AS02 AR 6893), expressed regret over the incident and assured that he would bear all medical expenses for his injured family members.
The vehicle was carrying six visitors on a jeep safari, having entered the park with entry ticket number KNP50420251623. According to Hussain, the sudden acceleration of the vehicle was an attempt to avoid the charging rhinoceros, which led to the unfortunate fall.
The response by the forest guard and the driver ensured that the situation was brought under control quickly although videos on social media show people trying to shoo the rhinoceros away from near the duo who fell.
