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Tigress kills a 20 year old
A tigress killed a 20-year-old girl Gudiya at around 11 am on Sunday in Katerniaghat range under Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, reports Pawan Dixit.
A tigress killed a 20-year-old girl Gudiya at around 11 am on Sunday in Katerniaghat range under Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
This is the first reported incident of human killing by a feline in the current year in the state. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) BK Patnaik has announced a compensation of Rs 10,000 to the kin of the deceased. The state government would extend more financial assistance to the victim’s family after receiving the death certificate.
According to forest officials, five women including Gudiya, daughter of Rajendra of Bishun Tada village under Sijoli police station of Katerniaghat range in Bahraich district, went to the forest to collect wood. After they went more than 100 metres inside the forest, a tigress hiding in the lantana bushes attacked them. Before the women could understand and raise an alarm, the tigress attacked Gudiya and killed her on the spot. When other women raised an alarm the tigress left the body and vanished into the forest.
Meanwhile, after getting the information, villagers reached the spot and informed forest officials about the incident. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) RK Singh along with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for nature’s official Dalbir Hasan reached the spot. Forest officials have sent the body for autopsy.
“It’s a case of chance encounter. The forest area where the incident took place is famous for tigers,” stated Patnaik. “These women went deep into the forest and landed right before the tigress resting in the bushes,” he said.
Five teams of forest officials have been constituted for carrying out combing operation in the forest. Forest guards have also been deployed on the main road passing through the road.
“Commuters have been advised not to venture on the road alone,” said DFO RK Singh.
(With inputs from Deo Kant Pandey)
