A tragic incident occurred late Saturday night in Kherba Tola village, located in the Panpatha buffer zone of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh. A 48-year-old woman, Phoolbai, was killed and two other villagers were critically injured when a tiger entered the settlement and attacked residents sleeping outside their homes.
Details of the Attack
The tiger attacked Phoolbai while she was sleeping in the courtyard of her house, killing her instantly. It then mauled two other villagers, Dasaiyya and Phulla, who were admitted to a hospital in critical condition. Following the attacks, the tiger reportedly moved into a house and remained there throughout the night, despite villagers gathering outside and panic spreading across the settlement.
Forest teams rushed to the village and monitored the animal through the night as efforts began to secure the area and prevent further attacks. By Sunday morning, the tiger was found dead inside the house. Samita Rajora, a forest official, stated, "We are waiting for the autopsy report for more details," adding that the exact reason behind the tiger's death is not yet known.
Retrieval and Autopsy
Officials said it took several hours for forest personnel to retrieve the tiger from the house amid tension in the village. Bandhavgarh field director Anupam Sahay noted that the tiger had already died by the time the rescue team managed to dart the animal. "The tiger was already dead when the team was able to dart it and begin rescue efforts. We had to face resistance from villagers while retrieving the carcass," Sahay said, adding that it was a male tiger aged around seven years.
Villagers' Outrage and Violence
The incident triggered outrage in the village, with residents demanding immediate action from authorities. Villagers allegedly stopped police from taking Phoolbai's body for post-mortem for several hours, insisting on stronger measures to prevent repeated tiger attacks and ensure safety in the area. The situation later turned violent as angry villagers allegedly attacked members of the forest department team, accusing authorities of failing to prevent recurring wildlife attacks in villages bordering the reserve.
During the violence, range officer Prateek Srivastava sustained a head injury, while Pataur Ranger Anju Verma was allegedly assaulted. A forest guard and a deputy ranger were also injured in the clash. Additional police and forest staff were later deployed to bring the situation under control and prevent further unrest.
Government Response and Compensation
Following the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed condolences over the woman's death and announced Rs 25 lakh compensation for the bereaved family. He also directed officials to ensure free medical treatment for the injured and provide compensation to them. The state government confirmed that the victim's family would receive Rs 25 lakh as ex-gratia assistance, while treatment expenses of the injured would be borne by the government. Officials were also directed to assess compensation for those injured in the attack.
Ongoing Vigilance
Officials noted that villages in the Panpatha landscape remain vulnerable to wildlife movement due to their proximity to forested areas. An alert has been issued in nearby villages, while forest teams continue to monitor tiger movement in the region. The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between humans and wildlife in areas bordering tiger reserves.
