Tiger attacks 65-year-old farmer in Girgaon near Talodhi; women labourers' shouts save his life

Chandrapur (Talodhi): A tiger suddenly attacked a 65-year-old man who was working in a field in the Girgaon area. The injured man is Devaji Pandurang Wadhai, a resident of Girgaon. The incident has caused considerable panic in the area.

According to the information available, the incident took place in Girgaon beat, under Govindpur sub-range of Talodhi forest range. Devaji Wadhai was cutting grass at around 11.30 am in the field of Shulka Amarsing Nikure, survey number 338, on the bank of the Kanhadgaon-Girgaon stream, when a tiger passing by pounced on him.

Devaji called out for help. Hearing his cries, women labourers who were eating nearby and harvesting paddy showed courage and immediately ran towards him. Their presence of mind and shouting made the tiger flee, and the elderly man narrowly escaped with his life.

On hearing of the incident, Vinodbhau Borkar of Girgaon reached the spot and informed the Forest Department. Talodhi Range Forest Officer Tejas Suryavanshi, Field Assistant G.M. Hinganakar, and forest guards Pandit Mekwad and Main then reached the site with their team. Devaji Wadhai suffered minor injuries to his head and hand from the tiger's claws. He was immediately taken to the rural hospital in Sindewahi for treatment.

After inspecting the site, the Forest Department has installed trap cameras in the area to trace the tiger that attacked and to monitor its movements. Present during the relief and investigation were Jeeve Sayam, head of the rescue team of the Swab organisation, its president Yash Kayarkar and his team, Police Inspector Rahul Guhe, Girgaon police patil Borkar, and a large number of villagers.

The Forest Department has also stepped up patrolling in the area. Talodhi Range Forest Officer Tejas Suryavanshi has appealed to people and farmers to exercise full caution while working in fields and while moving through areas bordering the forest.