Nagpur: A tiger attack in the Khandelwal Nagar area of Sihora (Kanhan) on Monday resulted in the death of one cow and injury to another, creating an atmosphere of fear among local villagers.

Upon receiving information about the incident, forest personnel, including forest guard Satish Wasnik, Kanhan beat in-charge N.K. Meshram, and laborer Maisur Bondekar, arrived at the scene to inspect the area. They discovered tiger pug marks along the bank of the Kanhan River. Despite firing crackers to scare off the animal, they were unable to catch sight of the tiger.

The attack took place when 62-year-old Shantaram Bhondu Meshram, a resident of Sihora, took his cattle to graze in a nearby forested area. During the afternoon, the tiger, hiding in the bushes, attacked the herd, killing one cow and injuring another without Shantaram’s immediate knowledge. The frightened cattle scattered and eventually returned home, prompting Shantaram to notice the absence of one cow. He later discovered the missing cow dead in the forest.

Shantaram alerted the villagers about the incident, which led to Kanhan Police Inspector Rajendra Patil, along with beat jamadar Ashik Kumbhare and Atish Manwatkar, visiting the site. Forest officials conducted a formal inspection (panchanama), while a veterinary doctor treated the injured cow and performed a post-mortem on the deceased one.

Growing Concern in the Area:

The attack has heightened concerns among local residents, as there have been recent reports of tiger sightings in the Nilaj-Khandala area. The presence of the tiger has left the villagers worried about the safety of their livestock and themselves, fearing more such incidents could occur.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the local community and are urging villagers to remain cautious while venturing near forested areas.