Tragedy struck in Uttar Pradesh’s Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary when a tiger brutally attacked a woman, leaving her with severe injuries. The terrifying incident, which saw villagers bravely driving the animal away, has ignited outrage over the delayed response from local forest officials.
Kuraisha Bano, 40, was reportedly working peacefully in her fields in Harkhapur village, near the Dharmapur Range, when a tiger ambushed her from a hidden bush. The ferocious attack left her with deep wounds to her head and neck. Fortunately, her desperate cries for help alerted nearby villagers, who quickly sprang into action. They managed to scare off the big cat by igniting firecrackers, potentially saving her life.
Bano was immediately rushed to the Motipur community health centre, but due to the severity of her injuries, she was transferred to Bahraich Medical College for specialized care. Thankfully, her condition is now reported as stable.
Following the harrowing attack, angry villagers gathered to protest, voicing their frustration over what they perceived as a slow and inadequate response from the forest department.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Suraj confirmed the tiger attack and assured that prompt financial aid has been extended to the victim as per official guidelines. In response to the heightened threat, three dedicated teams have been deployed to actively monitor the area for any further tiger activity. Camera traps are being set up, and the DFO has authorized the use of a cage to capture the tiger if necessary.
Forest officials are also strongly urging residents in the vicinity to exercise extreme caution, advising them against venturing into the fields alone, particularly after dark, to prevent similar unfortunate encounters.