In a span of just two days, two individuals have lost their lives in separate tiger attacks in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. The first incident occurred near Akapur village in Nagbhid tehsil of Bramhapuri forest division. Devta Jiwan Chanfane, aged 47, was attacked and mauled by a tiger while working on a farm. The predator dragged her body deep into the forest, causing concern among her family and villagers.
A search party, comprising family members, villagers, and state wildlife officials, was organized. Eventually, Devta’s mutilated body was found by tracking the tiger’s pugmarks. The victim’s kin received an ex-gratia of 225,000 from the forest officials. In response to these tragic events, authorities have intensified patrolling efforts and warned villagers about tigers’ presence in the area.
In a separate incident, Ishwar Kumbhare, aged 45, from Sawargaon village in Boldha forest, fell victim to a tiger attack while working in the field. The incident triggered panic in the Chimur area. Villagers immediately alerted the forest department, which promptly launched a search operation. Tragically, Ishwar’s lifeless body was discovered some distance away from the farm.
Forest officials have denied the involvement of the same tiger in both incidents, emphasizing that the locations were far apart. It is disheartening to note that the district has witnessed 13 tiger-related fatalities since January, with 53 recorded last year. Authorities are now implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.