New Delhi: A white tiger at Delhi Zoo mauled to death a youth after he fell into its enclosure this afternoon.
Eyewitnesses said that the incident took place as the victim, said to be in his early 20s, was taking pictures of the tiger.
The victim has been identified as Maqsood who was 19 years old.
According to Maqsood's family, he was mentally ill and was undergoing treatment for last four years.
Police said that the body of the victim is still lying inside the enclosure and police and the staff at the zoo are trying to take it out.
“The tiger attacked the youth after he fell into the enclosure. It attacked his neck,” an eyewitness said.
Police said that further investigation is on into the matter.
According to Amitabh Agnihotri, Director of Delhi zoo, 20 year old Maqsood crossed standoff barrier of the white tiger enclose beat no. 8 and jumped into the enclosure. The guard Praveen posted at the enclosure sounded the alarm and the supervisor and support staff rushed to the spot.
They tried to divert the attention of the tiger from the visitor but to no avail. The tiger mauled the visitor who died at the spot.
Denying any lapse on part of the zoo officials, Amitabh Agnihotri said that the enclosures of the national zoological park New Delhi have been designed as per the standard laid down by the central zoo authority and that all the enclosure off zoo are absolutely safe.
According to zoo officials, the tiger is 7 years old and is called 'Vijay'. The weight of this tiger is 250 kg.
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