RAIPUR: Three incidents of wild attacks have claimed lives of two elderly people and injured another when they were out in forests to collect forest produce, in separate places of Chhattisgarh.
A 65-year old man died in an elephant attack on Sunday when he went to collect mahua fruits in forests of Janakpur park area in Chhattisgarh’s Koriya. The victim Arjun Baland had his house close to Khadghat forest and it was part of his routine to collect woods, fruits and flowers from forest. His body was recovered on Monday morning when villagers were walking towards the fields. Another 65-year-old woman died of rabies in Chhattisgarh’s Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi weeks after a wild cat attack, her condition worsening fatally as the family turned to a ‘baiga’ instead of timely medical care. According to family members, she had gone to a nearby forest around 20 to 25 days ago when a rabid wild cat attacked her and severely bit her left leg. The incident took place near Pangawan, when the woman, identified as Matin Kunwar, had gone into the forest early in the morning to gather mahua.According to officials, a female bear accompanied by two cubs suddenly appeared in front of her and attacked the elderly woman, leaving her seriously injured.
Her daughter-in-law Shakuntala said the woman’s condition kept worsening over the days. Family members also said that during recent spells of rain and lightning, she showed signs of acute distress. Doctors said these were consistent with symptoms of rabies, including hydrophobia and sensitivity to light.She was finally taken to the district hospital on April 15, where she was administered the first dose of anti-rabies vaccine.
However, doctors said the virus had already spread through her body by then. Her condition deteriorated further and she died during treatment on Sunday.In Balrampur district, a 75-year-old woman was critically injured after being attacked by a bear while collecting mahua flowers in a forested area.The incident took place near Sitarampur para when Ramunia Bai was out to collect forest produce.According to officials, a female bear accompanied by two cubs suddenly appeared and attacked the elderly woman, leaving her seriously injured.
Other villagers who were with her fled the spot to save themselves and later rushed back to alert family members and residents.Ramunia was taken to the district hospital, where she is undergoing treatment. Her condition is stated to be critical.The incident has spread fear across the area, with villagers expressing concern over frequent human-animal encounters during the mahua collection season, when people regularly enter forest zones.After being informed, a forest department team reached the spot. Deputy ranger Shiv Prasad inspected the site and said locals have to be careful and prevent themselves from venturing into the forest.Villagers have demanded continuous patrolling in the area and stronger preventive measures from the forest department to protect residents from wild animal attacks.
