Two Tigers Attack Moving Car on Pachmarhi Road, Six Roaming Near Jhiriya and Matkuli

Six tigers terrorise Pachmarhi highway in MP; two attack a moving car and a motorcycle near Jhiriya at 2 am, sparking panic among travellers.

Six tigers are currently roaming the road between Jhiriya and Matkuli on the Piparia-Pachmarhi highway in Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh, triggering widespread fear among travellers.

Around 2 am on Friday, two tigers attacked a moving car between Dokarkheda and Jhiriya. One tiger first lunged at the vehicle, and moments later, a second tiger, which had been hiding near a milestone, clawed at the car's windscreen. Both tigers then chased the car before the driver managed to speed away and reach the nearest forest checkpost.

A couple travelling on a motorcycle on the same stretch was also attacked by a tiger. Both the car driver and the motorcycling couple reached the forest checkpost and reported the incidents. The car driver, identified as Sujit Patwa, a resident of Piparia, said he stayed at the checkpost for some time and stopped other motorcyclists and bus drivers heading towards Jhiriya and Matkuli from proceeding further. He later informed emergency services on 112 before returning home.

According to the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR), two male tigers have been spotted near the Jhiriya checkpost, while a tigress and her three cubs are roaming near Matkuli — accounting for the six tigers active in the area. Officials noted that the stretch where the attacks occurred falls within a regular forest zone.

The forest department and STR have put jungle patrol teams on high alert. Travellers are being advised to avoid using this road alone at night. Fear has spread to the point where people are now reluctant to use the route even during the day.

Narmadapuram SDO (Piparia Buffer STR) Ashish Khobragade confirmed that incidents of two tigers attacking a car and a motorcycle near Jhiriya have been reported. Teams have been alerted and officials are attempting to speak to those involved.