Nagpur: Panic spread in Mandhal area of Kuhi taluka in Nagpur district early Thursday morning after a tiger was spotted roaming near a petrol pump. The big cat was seen walking calmly on the road near the Nayara petrol pump on the Mandhal-Pachkhedi route, surprising several motorists and locals.
According to eyewitnesses, a few drivers passing through the area noticed the tiger moving freely near the roadside. Some motorists immediately stopped their vehicles after spotting the animal, while others cautiously turned back to maintain a safe distance.
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A video of the incident, captured by motorists on their mobile phones, has since gone viral on social media. The footage reportedly shows the tiger walking very close to a four-wheeler, while a biker quickly changes direction to avoid coming too close to the animal.
Fortunately, the sighting occurred during the early morning hours when there was minimal activity at the petrol pump. There were no employees or customers present at the time. Had the tiger appeared during peak hours, officials say the situation could have led to a serious accident or even casualties.
The incident has created an atmosphere of fear among residents in the surrounding villages. Forest Department officials have been alerted and are closely monitoring the situation to ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, a new male tiger has recently been recorded in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The tiger has been named “Shiledar.” Forest officials said the animal was recently spotted within the reserve limits and is believed to be moving within the territory of tigress “Tara” in the Chandoli National Park region.
Shiledar had earlier been captured in a camera trap in Amboli in Sindhudurg district. Later, in 2025, the tiger was also sighted in the Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary area.
Under the Sahyadri Tiger Project, tigresses Chanda, Tara, and Hirkani have been relocated to strengthen the population in the reserve. Male tigers Baji, Subhedar, and Senapati are already present in the landscape. With the arrival of Shiledar, forest officials believe the tiger population in the project area could further increase in the coming years.
