A woman was killed and four other people were injured in a tiger attack near the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district on Saturday, triggering anger among local residents who later assaulted forest department personnel during protests over the incident.
According to forest officials, the attack took place in a village located near the protected forest area when a tiger reportedly entered human habitation in search of prey. The deceased woman, identified as a local villager, was attacked while she was outdoors near the forest fringe. Four others who tried to rescue her or came close to the area were also injured in the sudden attack.
The injured victims were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials said at least two of them suffered serious injuries, though all are currently reported to be stable. Forest department teams and police personnel reached the spot soon after the incident and launched efforts to track the tiger and prevent further attacks.
The incident sparked massive anger among villagers, who accused forest authorities of failing to prevent repeated wildlife intrusions into residential areas. Protesters allegedly attacked forest staff members and damaged official vehicles during the unrest. Some villagers claimed that tiger movement near human settlements had increased in recent months but authorities failed to take adequate preventive measures.
Police later intervened to control the situation and disperse the crowd. Additional security personnel were deployed in the area to prevent further violence. Officials said discussions were being held with villagers to restore calm and ensure cooperation during the search operation for the tiger.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is one of India’s most well-known tiger habitats and is famous for having a high density of big cats. However, incidents of human-animal conflict have become increasingly common around the reserve as villages continue to expand near forest boundaries. Wildlife experts say habitat pressure, shrinking prey base and increased human activity near forest areas often force animals to stray into populated zones.
Forest officials said efforts are underway to identify the tiger involved in the attack using camera traps and pugmark tracking. Authorities are also considering temporary restrictions on movement near vulnerable forest-edge villages until the situation is brought under control.
Officials have assured residents that steps will be taken to strengthen safety measures in the area. Compensation for the victim’s family is also expected to be provided under wildlife conflict relief policies of the state government.
