Tiger Attacks Stir Panic: Second Fatality in South Kheri in Fortnight

A 40-year-old man was killed by a tiger in the Maheshpur range, marking the second fatality within two weeks. Local villagers are outraged and demanding immediate action. Authorities have deployed patrolling teams and equipment to capture the tiger but are facing difficulties due to heavy rains and waterlogging.

A 40-year-old man was tragically killed by a tiger in the Maheshpur range of South Kheri forest division in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. This incident marks the second such fatality in the area within a fortnight, causing significant outrage among the local villagers.

The victim, Jakir, a resident of Muda Assi village, was attacked by the animal while working in his sugarcane field. In response to the growing panic, villagers are demanding that authorities take immediate steps to capture the tiger.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sanjay Biswal has confirmed the second human casualty attributed to tiger attacks in the Maheshpur range. The first casualty was reported on August 27, when another villager, Ambarish Kumar, was allegedly killed by the same tiger. Following these tragic events, state Forest Minister Arun Kumar visited the area, instructing forest authorities to capture the animal.

The forest department has taken several measures to capture the elusive tiger. Patrolling teams equipped with drone cameras, cages, and 40 monitoring cameras have been deployed. Tranquillising experts from various reserves and zoos, including Daksha Gangwar from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and an expert from Kanpur zoo, have also been called in to aid the efforts.

However, heavy rains and subsequent waterlogging have severely hampered the operation. Despite these challenges, the authorities continue to work diligently to locate and capture the tiger, which has been traced but remains elusive. The tension in the area is palpable as authorities face mounting pressure to resolve this human-animal conflict promptly.

(With inputs from agencies.)