A 45-year-old woman, Manju Solanki, died after being attacked by a lioness in Amreli district on Monday afternoon while washing clothes in a river near Govindpur village in Dhari taluka.
The incident occurred around 3:30 pm in an area that falls under the Dalkhaniya range of the Gir East forest division. According to forest officials, the woman and the lioness suddenly came into close proximity, following which the animal attacked and grabbed her leg.
Workers nearby rushed to the spot after hearing her cries, forcing the lioness to flee. Solanki, who suffered severe blood loss, was taken to a hospital where doctors declared her dead.
Forest officials later captured the lioness suspected to be involved in the attack. Authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances, including whether the animal had cubs nearby.
Amreli district often witnesses the movement of Asiatic lions near villages, with officials estimating that several hundred lions frequently pass through revenue land close to human settlements, increasing the risk of human–wildlife encounters.