Woman, 60, killed in tiger attack in field near Agarzari lake in Tadoba

A 60-year-old woman was killed in a tiger attack near Agarzari lake in the Mohrli forest range of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve on Monday afternoon. The incident took place around 2.35 pm on October 5. The woman was washing a fertiliser sack in a field next to the lake when the tiger, coming from the direction of the lake, attacked her suddenly. According to preliminary information, the tiger dragged her some distance.

The deceased has been identified as Mandabai Suryabhan Mangam. She was about 60 and lived in Agarzari. She is survived by a son and a daughter. The Forest Department said the incident occurred in the area of Survey No. 10/4, Compartment No. 187. Villagers say this is the third tiger attack in the Agarzari area so far.

On hearing the news, villagers gathered in large numbers at the spot to see the woman. At that time the tiger, which was nearby, charged at the crowd, causing panic. Some villagers fell as they ran to escape the tiger. A man who had climbed a tree is also reported to have fallen down.

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Forest Department staff reached the spot immediately and moved the villagers to a safe distance. The situation was brought under control through the staff's alertness, and no further major mishap occurred.

After the incident, the Forest Department has installed trap cameras in the area and begun monitoring the tiger's movements. Patrolling and surveillance by forest staff have also been stepped up for public safety.

Meanwhile, villagers of Agarzari stopped a Forest Department vehicle and demanded that the tiger be trapped using a cage. They also demanded that garbage in the lake area be cleared, that farmers be helped to reach their fields safely for farm work, and that forest staff accompany them at necessary places. A demand was also made that the deceased woman's son be given a job in the Forest Department.

Santosh Thipe, the Mohrli range forest officer, spoke to the villagers and heard their demands. He assured them that, given the tiger's movements, forest staff would be deployed with people when they switch on the water tap in the area, garbage would be cleared, and action would be taken to give farmers the help they need for farm work. Durgapur police station inspector S. B. Shegavkar also spoke to the villagers and tried to calm the situation.

The Forest Department has given the woman's family Rs 50,000 as immediate assistance. The body has been sent to Chandrapur for post-mortem.

Agarzari beat assistant A. P. Tijare, Mohrli forest range staff, Durgapur police station inspector S. B. Shegavkar, Zakir Qureshi, Naresh Elpulwar and other police personnel were present at the spot. Police patil Sindhubai Atram and villagers of Agarzari were also there.

The Forest Department has appealed to people not to crowd needlessly in the area near the lake and forest, and not to go alone to fields or near the forest. Necessary arrangements for public safety are continuing while the tiger's movements are monitored.