RANTHAMBORE: Three safari vehicles, drivers and one guide have been banned till further orders after tourists were left stranded inside Ranthambore forest Saturday evening.The forest department has also ordered an inquiry into the incident, directing the assistant conservator of forests, tourism, to submit a report within three days. The order was issued by the deputy conservator of forests, tourism.

The action followed a serious lapse in safari operations. An official said one of the safari vehicles ferrying tourists back from Zone 6 broke down in the dark, leaving the visitors stuck in the forest. Another one, which was supposed to be stationed at the forest chowki as a standby, was not on duty.“A third safari vehicle, which had already returned with tourists, was instructed to bring back the stranded visitors but failed to comply with departmental directions. As a result, all three vehicles, their drivers, and the accompanying guide have been barred from operations,” he said.Meanwhile, the forest department has also taken a decision regarding the age limit of safari vehicles. Contrary to earlier proposals to extend the service of vehicles from 10 to 15 years, the department will now only grant a one-year relaxation. The field director has been instructed to ensure that all vehicles operating in the Ranthambore Tiger Project are safe, suitable for tourism, and meet safari standards before any extension is approved.Currently, 556 vehicles are registered for tourism in Ranthambore. The Ranthambore Vehicle Safari Owners’ Union had previously submitted a memorandum demanding an extension of the model condition.However, hoteliers and other stakeholders argue that poorly maintained vehicles pose a significant risk to tourists. They pointed out that newer, technologically better vehicles with lower emissions are available in the market. “Some of the existing vehicles are in a ramshackle state. Owners avoid spending on maintenance since they expect these vehicles to be discontinued soon,” a hotelier said.A forest staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that the pressure from vehicle owners played a role in granting the one-year relaxation. “The extension was given despite concerns, as it was seen as an additional burden on owners,” the official said.