Nanjangud: A herder met a tragic end in a tiger assault at Ballurhundi village in Hullahalli hobli on a Friday afternoon. The deceased, Rathnamma (49), wife of Venkataiah from Ballurhundi village, succumbed to the tiger attack.
Following the incident, an atmosphere of fear enveloped the village. Rathnamma, who was grazing cattle near Mahadevanagar village, adjacent to Ballurhundi village near Hediyala in Bandipur National Park, was attacked and dragged away by the tiger. Despite loud shouts from onlookers fearing for their lives, the tiger persisted, delivering a fatal blow to her neck.
Subsequently, the tiger dragged the body over a considerable distance, consuming a portion before leaving it. Bandipur Director Dr. P. Ramesh Kumar, along with ACF Paramesh and staff, swiftly arrived at the location, conducting a search that led to the discovery of the body within the forest area.
A large crowd from Ballurhundi village hurried to the outskirts of the forest, expressing their frustration. Addressing the situation, they emphasized that the tiger threat in the area has reached an alarming level, hindering people from engaging in agricultural activities. The daily commute has become challenging. Despite notifying the authorities about the recent tiger attack, the forest department’s response has been lacking, raising concerns among the villagers. They questioned the department’s actions in the face of recent fatalities and demanded appropriate compensation for the grieving family.
The forest department has assembled a task force to capture the tiger in the Ballurhundi area. Cages have been strategically positioned, and the team will undertake operations to apprehend the tiger.
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