Amreli: Tense moments were witnessed on Datar Hill on Junagadh early on Monday morning when devotees spotted a pride of five Asiatic lions on the steps leading up the hill.The lions reportedly climbed to a height of around 3,200 feet, prompting forest officials to rush to the spot to prevent any confrontation between the animals and devotees.On receiving information about the lions’ presence, a team of Junagadh forest department personnel and trackers reached the hill and began monitoring their movements. The team ensured that devotees maintained a safe distance before gradually guiding the lions away from the steps and back into the forest.In July, a lion had attacked and killed an 11-year-old boy climbing the Girnar hill with his family, triggering a major safety scare among thousands of pilgrims.State forest and environment minister Arjun Modhwadia was informed about the incident. He said the forest department and trackers had responded promptly and taken necessary precautions to ensure the safety of both the lions and pilgrims.The operation was completed without any untoward incident.
