Dehradun: Panic gripped a remote hamlet in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district after a bear attack claimed the lives of two women, reigniting local demands for urgent steps to tackle escalating human–wildlife conflict in the hill state.
The tragedy unfolded at Sideli Tok, in Nail gram panchayat under the Pokhari development block, when the women ventured towards a forested patch, according to villagers.
The dead were named as Laxmi Devi, 42, wife of Gajendra Negi, and Vimla Devi, 55, wife of Chandrashekhar Singh; the two were sisters-in-law.
Fall From Cliff, Fatal Injuries
Preliminary accounts suggest the bear charged without warning, prompting the women to flee towards a steep, rocky incline in a bid to escape, as reported by The New Indian Express.
In the scramble, Vimla Devi reportedly slipped, tumbled down a cliff and suffered critical injuries; she died at the scene, villagers said.
Laxmi Devi was also badly hurt. Hearing their cries, locals rushed to the spot, pulled her out of the difficult terrain and informed the police and Forest Department.
She was first shifted to the Community Health Centre in Pokhari. Given the gravity of her injuries, doctors referred her to a higher medical facility, but she succumbed while being transported towards Srinagar, according to local accounts.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar confirmed the deaths.
“Both women have died following the bear attack. Teams from the district administration and the Forest Department have reached the area and are gathering detailed information about the incident,” Kumar said.
Villagers Demand Capture, More Patrolling
Forest officials were dispatched to inspect the site and track the animal’s movement. The incident drew a large crowd of villagers, who voiced alarm over frequent bear sightings near human settlements.
Residents urged the Forest Department to capture the bear and step up patrolling around residential zones, saying fear of wild animals was increasingly disrupting daily routines, particularly women’s trips to collect fodder and firewood.
The tragedy has thrown a fresh spotlight on the escalating human–wildlife conflict gripping Uttarakhand’s mountain districts. In the Garhwal region, residents say run-ins with bears and leopards are on the rise, forcing many to shun isolated trails and restrict movement outdoors after dark
Similar bear attacks have earlier been reported from Paithani and Thalisain, where victims sustained serious injuries, especially to the head and face.
