A tragic incident of human-wildlife conflict claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district on Saturday. The victim, identified as Kiran, was fatally attacked by a wild boar while playing outside her home in a tribal settlement.
The Fatal Attack: A Timeline of Events
The horrifying incident unfolded around 10:30 am on Saturday in Aka Doda village, located in the Ganjbasoda area. Kiran was playing near her house when a wild boar suddenly charged from the adjacent forest. The animal gored the child in her abdomen with its sharp tusks, causing severe internal injuries. Officials reported that the attack was so brutal that it led to her intestines protruding.
In a desperate bid to save her, family members rushed Kiran on a motorcycle to the nearest government hospital. They reached the facility around noon. After administering primary treatment, the attending doctors, recognizing the critical nature of her wounds, referred her to a hospital in Vidisha for advanced care.
Tragically, the young girl succumbed to her injuries during the journey. She passed away around 3 pm while en route to Vidisha.
Life in a Forest-Fringe Settlement
Police investigations revealed that Kiran's family lived in a tribal settlement approximately one kilometre from the main village. Their home is situated close to both forest land and agricultural fields, a common setting for such conflicts. Her father, Hari Singh, informed the police that while wild boars are frequently spotted in the area during nighttime, their appearance in broad daylight is a rare occurrence.
Kiran was the youngest of three siblings. She was a Class 2 student at the local government school, her life abruptly cut short by the unexpected assault.
Aftermath and Ongoing Proceedings
Local police were alerted and promptly reached the incident site. A post-mortem examination was conducted as part of the standard procedure. Further legal and administrative proceedings were underway at the time the initial report was filed.
This heartbreaking event underscores the persistent and growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in regions where human habitations border forested areas. It raises urgent questions about safety measures and mitigation strategies for communities living in such vulnerable zones.
