Dhamtari: Bear attacked two villagers in Parsabuda village of Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh triggering panic among villagers Tuesday morning, two villagers were injured. The incident took place at Kunanar forest area in Magarlod police station area.
The officials, speaking to the news agency, said the two villagers left their homes and went into the forest separately about 5 am, before being attacked by a bear that was hiding around the area. The animal is said to have attacked both victims sequentially leaving them injured.
The villagers nearby heard their shrieks and quickly went to the area where they thought the bear was, and successfully scooted the animal away. All the victims were promptly transferred to the Community Health Centre in Magarlod, where they are receiving care.
Forest officials were notified and went to the scene and investigated the incident. The department has started monitoring of the area to that it will not be attacked again.
The attack coincides with a separate attack in Kanker’s Markatola-Largaon area in Chhattisgarh that claimed two lives and injured one person yesterday prompted by the surge in man-wildlife conflict, the state police said.
After the incidents, forest officials have requested villagers to refrain from entering the forest, particularly the areas where bears have been seen. Security has been stepped up around the vulnerable villages and there is an increased watch on them as the female bears are suspected in the surrounding forests, officials said.
The authorities have asked the general public to be extra alert till the matter is settled.