At least eight tendu leaf collectors, including women, sustained injuries, some of a serious nature, after a herd of wild boars attacked them in a forested area of Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district on Tuesday morning. The incident triggered panic among workers during the peak collection season.
Details of the Attack
The workers were caught off guard when a group of wild boars charged at them, leaving several with severe injuries before they could react. Eyewitnesses reported chaos as labourers attempted to flee the sudden assault. Women were among those seriously hurt. The attack occurred around 7 a.m. in the Kohla Kasa forest, where over a dozen villagers from nearby settlements had entered the jungle to pluck tendu leaves.
The injured have been identified as Phoolbai, Madhuri, Anjanibai, Urmila Joshi, and Kheduram, among others. Five of the injured were admitted to Rajnandgaon Medical College Hospital, while others were transferred to Pathri and Chhuria health centres. Hospital sources confirmed that at least one woman remains in critical condition with deep injuries to the chest and arms, while the condition of others is stable.
Official Response
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ayush Jain inspected the site and later visited the hospital to assess the situation. He stated, "The incident is being investigated. Immediate medical assistance has been provided, and the department will bear the treatment expenses." He added that interim relief would be given to the injured.
Forest officials noted that a herd of wild boars is still present in the area, and teams have been deployed to monitor their movement, as the animals appear overly aggressive.
Community Concerns
The attack has sparked fear in Kohlakasa and nearby villages, especially as many villagers enter forests during the tendu leaf season. Residents have demanded increased patrolling and better safety measures, citing that rising wildlife movement endangers lives. Continuous incidents of human-animal conflict have been reported across the state during the mahua and tendu leaf collection season. Experts suggest that wild animals feel threatened as humans take away their food sources, triggering aggression and attacks.
In a separate incident reported from Halekosa village in Chhuria region, another wild boar attack on tendu leaf collectors left several injured, further intensifying concerns over safety in forest areas.
