Kota (Rajasthan) Nov 12 (PTI) A 42-year-old volunteer engaged in tiger tracking duty at the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Bundi district died after falling from a moving forest department vehicle, officials said on Thursday.
Kamal Bairwa, a resident of Devpura village under Dei police station limits in Bundi district, sustained critical head injuries during the fall and died during treatment at a private hospital in Kota on Wednesday afternoon.
Police handed over his body to family members after a post-mortem at Kota’s MBS Hospital on Thursday morning.
According to Deputy Conservator of Forest Arun Kumar D, the volunteers had requested beds and cots to be arranged at an internal watchtower in the sanctuary, so that they could rest after completing their trekking duties.
The request was granted, and a camper vehicle loaded with beds and cots was heading to the watchtower on Wednesday morning, with one volunteer seated in the rear while another volunteer drove it. Forest department staff followed the vehicle on a two-wheeler, he said.
As the vehicle reached around 500 metres near the watchtower’s gate, the driver noticed that the volunteer seated at the back had fallen off, DCF Kumar said.
When the driver and the forest department staff rushed to check on him, Bairwa reportedly said he felt dizzy, before losing consciousness. He sustained severe head injuries in the fall and suffered heavy bleeding, the DCF said.
Bairwa was initially taken to Bundi for treatment and later referred to Kota for advanced medical care. Despite doctors’ efforts to save him, the volunteer died during treatment on Wednesday, Kumar said.
The forest department is coordinating efforts to provide financial assistance to the bereaved family and is also examining Bairwa’s eligibility for government welfare schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, he added.
Dei police station SHO Hanuman Sahay said a case of negligent driving had been registered against the driver of the forest camper vehicle following a complaint by the deceased’s family. PTI COR SMV SMV RUK
RUK
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