Balaghat: A woman, in her 30s, died in a suspected tiger attack at the Parrapur Baigatola village, under the Khapa range of the Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, in the wee hours of Sunday.
The incident happened in the Balaghat district of the state, as reported by PTI.
Sugni Bai Dhurve was sleeping in a hut when a big cat entered the village, about 80 km from the district headquarters, around 1.30 am, grabbed her by the head and dragged her away, villagers said.
Locals rushed to the spot with torches on hearing the family’s cries for help. The tiger allegedly dragged the woman for about 300 metres before abandoning her and disappearing into the forest, they said.
Sugni Bai, who had suffered grievous head injuries, was taken to a hospital in Baihar, where she succumbed, block medical officer Anant Lilhare said.
Ashish Pandey, assistant director of the Sijhora Buffer Zone confirmed the incident and said a detailed report would be prepared after the ongoing inquiry.
A case of accidental death has been registered, and further investigation is underway, the police said.
The village has witnessed several instances of tigers and leopards venturing into human habitations in recent months, officials of the forest department said.
The victim’s family would be provided with financial assistance as per government norms, they said.
A cage will also be installed in the area to try and capture any tiger or leopard that strays into the village, officials said. Patrolling will also be intensified.
Meanwhile, residents have been urged to keep their house doors shut at night, avoid venturing into the forest, and not leave children and elderly persons unattended.
The woman’s family lives in a hut without a door, local representatives have claimed. It has not benefited from a central government scheme focusing on the socio-economic development of the most backward and vulnerable tribal groups of the country, they alleged.
