Bagaha: Fear swept through a village near the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar’s West Champaran on Thursday after a woman was killed in a tiger attack, the latest in a series of such incidents along the forest’s edge.
The victim, identified as Umchi Devi, 60, of Sonbarsa village, was grazing cattle in fields around 4.30pm when the tiger emerged from a nearby forest patch and mauled her. Villagers said the big cat dragged and partially consumed her before retreating when locals rushed to the spot, raising an alarm. Only torn clothing and part of a leg were recovered.
“The forest is barely 500 metres away. People live in constant fear,” one villager said.
Forest officials led by ranger Satyam Sonu reached the site and began an inquiry, confirming that a detailed investigation would follow.
The attack has renewed anger and anxiety among residents of Gaunaha block, where such encounters are increasingly common. Villagers allege that repeated tiger and wild animal attacks on both humans and livestock have gone unaddressed and are demanding stronger security measures.
The Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar’s only tiger reserve, spreads across 900 sq km along the India-Nepal border and has seen a rise in both tiger numbers and reports of human-wildlife conflict in recent years.
