Guwahati, Dec 21: A group of construction workers working at the Umananda Temple in the midst of the mighty Brahmaputra River in Guwahati were taken by surprise on Tuesday morning when they saw a Royal Bengal tiger swimming fast towards the river Island, which is world’s smallest human habituated river island.

Forest officials suspect that the tiger might have strayed away from Oranga National Park, about 120 KM away from Umananda, and swimmed its way to the island which is just 10 minutes boat ride across the Brahmaputra from Guwahati city.

Soon, a unit of the NDRF which has a base nearby was alerted and local police was also sounded.

Ferries full of devotees to Umananda Temple were evacuated, as Forest department surrounded the river island from all sides and were able to tranquilise the big cat.