CHENNAI: A tourist from Pudukkottai district has raised serious concerns about safety lapses and alleged mismanagement at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve after a safari vehicle carrying more than 20 passengers, including women and children, broke down inside the forest due to lack of fuel.
Muhammad Abdullah, a resident of Pudukkottai, visited Mudumalai on January 21, 2026, said the incident occurred around 5 pm when the safari vehicle he was travelling in came to a halt midway inside the reserve after running out of petrol.
The prolonged delay caused severe inconvenience to women and children on board, he said.
Following the incident, a rescue vehicle arrived, but Abdullah alleged that it was parked at a distance and in a manner that made boarding difficult.
He further claimed that the driver of the rescue vehicle, behaved rudely and hurried the tourists to get in without considering the safety and comfort of women and children.
When Abdullah and a few others questioned this behaviour, he allegedly responded in a disrespectful manner.
Abdullah said he exited the forest around 6.40 pm and immediately lodged a complaint regarding the incident and the conduct of the staff.
As no resolution was provided on the spot, he later filed complaints at the Masinagudi police station, with the Forest Department authorities, and at the Tamil Nadu Forest Department head office in Chennai. However, he was reportedly advised to approach officials such as the DFO and ranger, as the issue was considered “minor”.
Despite sending emails to the DFO and range officials, Abdullah said he has not received any response even after more than 10 days.
He added that though a complaint was filed at the Masinagudi police station on January 24, he was contacted only on January 30 and informed that the driver would be questioned.
Abdullah also alleged that attempts to submit a complaint to Gudalur MLA Pon Jayaseelan were unsuccessful, as his office did not receive the complaint.
A frequent visitor to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Abdullah claimed that maintenance standards were poor and that high-end jeep safaris, which charge up to Rs 10,000, were given priority, while lower-cost safari vehicles charging around Rs 340 per person were poorly maintained.
He further alleged that tourists using these budget safari services were often treated disrespectfully.