Tiger camps on Raisen Fort hill for 15 days, tourist access restricted

Bhopal: A tiger has taken over the historic Raisen Fort hill, roaming the hilltop for nearly 15 days and forcing the forest department to restrict tourist access to parts of the site.

What began with morning walkers spotting fresh pugmarks has now turned into a full-fledged monitoring operation, with camera traps repeatedly capturing the big cat’s movements across the fort hill. Officials said the tiger appears to have settled around a water source near Someshwar Dham Temple, where it has been frequently recorded drinking water and resting in shade amid scorching summer heat.

Raisen DFO Pratibha Shukla said surveillance has been intensified and tourist movement restricted as a precautionary measure. “Camera traps have been installed at different places and tourists have been restricted. We have put up banners and barricaded the entry gate,” she said. Access to sensitive stretches has been curtailed, with warning posters along pathways and forest personnel deployed to keep tourists away from risky zones.

The tiger was first detected 15 days ago after morning walkers spotted pugmarks. The forest department has urged visitors not to enter restricted areas and follow safety advisories as teams continue tracking the tiger’s movement to prevent human-animal conflict.