A tragic incident occurred in Ramgarh district late Tuesday when a 40-year-old man lost his life in a bear attack deep inside a forest under Mandu block. Forest officials confirmed the incident on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Hari Manjhi.
Details of the Incident
According to forest officials, Manjhi had ventured into the forest in search of his missing cattle. He sustained multiple grievous injuries during the bear attack. Villagers from nearby Murramtola rescued him and rushed him to Sadar Hospital in Ramgarh, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Forest Department Response
Bateshwar Paswan, the forest range officer of Mandu, stated that the bear attack took place deep inside the forest. The forest department has released an advance compensation of Rs 25,000 to the victim's family. Officials confirmed that the remaining Rs 3.75 lakh will be paid after the completion of necessary documentation, in accordance with government provisions.
Government Compensation Policy
Just two days prior, the state cabinet approved an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin in cases of man-animal conflicts. However, officials noted that the decision will come into effect only after it is officially notified in the gazette. An official stated, 'Initially, we have provided Rs 25,000. Based on the government's directive, we will provide appropriate compensation.'
About the Author
NK Agrawal, with three decades of journalism experience, covers Ramgarh district and writes on diverse subjects including railways, coal, agriculture, and tourism.
