A terrifying bear attack unfolded at a school in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Monday morning, leaving two children injured and the campus in a state of panic. The incident highlights the growing human-wildlife conflict in the hill state.
Panic on School Grounds
The attack occurred at Harishankar Junior School around 9:15 am. Eleven-year-old Aarav Pundir, a Class VI student, had arrived later than usual following an advisory issued after two other students had encountered a black bear near the school just a day earlier. Barely minutes after classes began, two bears entered the junior primary school campus and targeted Aarav.
As students and staff screamed in fear, children rushed into classrooms and bolted the doors from inside. In a harrowing scene, one of the bears clawed and pushed against a classroom door while terrified children hid within. The school, located on a hillside surrounded by bushes, lacks a proper boundary wall, a fact pointed out by teacher Upendra Sati who recorded a video statement after the incident.
A Heroic Rescue and Injuries
In a brave act, 12-year-old Divya Chaudhary ran towards the bear to distract it, allowing Aarav to be rescued. Divya suffered injuries in the process. Both children sustained injuries to their hands and legs and are currently undergoing medical treatment, according to school officials.
In the video, a shaken Aarav described the moments of the attack. "I heard people shouting about a bear and looked the other way, not knowing it was right behind me. It grabbed me from the back. I tried to free myself and ran, but another bear was standing near the bushes and pounced on me," he recounted.
Rising Conflict and Official Response
This was not an isolated incident. Another bear attack had occurred in Chamoli's Maroda area on Sunday evening, injuring a villager named Jaspal Singh, who suffered severe nose injuries and was rushed to AIIMS Rishikesh.
Forest department officials have now set up cages in the area and have sought permission to tranquilise or trap the bears. Sarvesh Dubey, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Rudraprayag, stated that schools in the vicinity have been advised to open after 10 am as a precautionary measure.
The data paints a grim picture. According to Uttarakhand forest department statistics, 64 human deaths and 467 injuries have been recorded so far this year in the state due to wildlife-related incidents. Black bears alone have been responsible for at least eight deaths and 95 injuries. Recent sightings, like a black bear with cubs in a Uttarkashi house's front yard, have become common, spreading fear among residents.
In response to the escalating crisis, the state government has announced a multi-pronged strategy that includes:
- Establishing district-level sterilisation and rehabilitation centres.
- Installing AI-powered early warning systems at conflict hotspots.
- Erecting solar fencing and sensor-based alert systems.
- Decentralising powers to ranger-level officers for quicker decision-making.
The attack in Chamoli serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for effective solutions to mitigate the dangerous encounters between humans and wildlife in Uttarakhand.
