Operation Bhediya: Forest Department Intensifies Wolf Search Amid Rising Attacks

Amid fatal wolf attacks in Bahraich, Chief Forest Conservator Renu Singh reviews 'Operation Bhediya'. Drones are patrolling continuously, capturing four wolves so far. Singh appeals for public caution, urging people to sleep indoors and walk in groups.

Chief Forest Conservator (central zone) Renu Singh reviewed the ongoing 'Operation Bhediya' wolf search operation in Bahraich, where eight people have been killed in the past two months. Singh spoke to ANI on Sunday, confirming that four wolves have been caught, but two remain at large. She emphasized that drones are continually being flown to aid the search efforts.

'Drones are being flown continuously. Four wolves have been caught until now and two are still left. Our teams are continuously patrolling, and we are trying to catch them as soon as possible,' Singh stated. The two remaining wolves were spotted last night but managed to escape capture, despite persistent efforts from the patrolling teams.

Singh made a strong appeal to the residents, urging them to sleep indoors and travel in groups to avoid further incidents. 'It is my strong appeal to the people that they sleep indoors. The people who were attacked earlier by the wolves were sleeping outside. Animals will not change their habits but we can be a little more cautious. People need to start walking in groups with a stick in their hands and be alert,' she advised.

The district has witnessed the loss of seven children and one woman to wolf attacks in the last two months. Recent reports indicate that a man and a child were also attacked by a wolf on Sunday. Both victims sustained injuries and confirmed the animal responsible as a wolf.

A relative of the injured child narrated the incident to ANI, stating, 'I am the child's uncle. He was attacked by the wolf at around 1:30 am. When we screamed, then the wolf left him and went away. We chased it but it went into the sugarcane fields. It was a wolf. There is its footprint in the house.' On Saturday, the Forest Department team set new traps to capture the two remaining wolves responsible for the attacks.

(With inputs from agencies.)