A terrifying bear attack unfolded at a primary school in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Monday morning, leaving two young students injured and the community in shock. The incident highlights the growing dangers of human-wildlife conflict in the hill state.
Panic on School Grounds
The attack occurred at Harishankar Junior School located on a hillside in Chamoli. The school had voluntarily delayed its opening time following an advisory issued after two other students encountered a black bear a day earlier. Despite the precaution, tragedy struck around 9:15 am, shortly after classes began.
Eleven-year-old Aarav Pundir, a Class VI student, was attacked by two bears that entered the school campus. The animals triggered massive panic, with students and staff rushing into classrooms and bolting the doors for safety. In a harrowing moment, one of the bears clawed and pushed against a classroom door while terrified children hid inside.
A Heroic Rescue Amidst the Chaos
In a brave act, twelve-year-old Divya Chaudhary ran towards the bear to distract it and help Aarav. She suffered injuries during this courageous attempt. Both children sustained injuries to their hands and legs and are currently undergoing medical treatment, according to school officials.
A teacher, Upendra Sati, recorded a video after the incident where a shaken Aarav described the ordeal. "I heard people shouting about a bear and looked the other way, not knowing it was right behind me," the boy recounted. "It grabbed me from the back. I tried to free myself and ran, but another bear was standing near the bushes and pounced on me."
Growing Conflict and Official Response
School teacher Upendra Sati pointed out that the institution lacks a proper boundary wall and is surrounded by bushes, making it vulnerable. In response, forest department officials have set up cages and sought permission to tranquilise or trap the bears. Sarvesh Dubey, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rudraprayag, stated that schools in the area have now been advised to open after 10 am as a further precaution.
This was not an isolated incident. Just a day earlier, on Sunday evening, another bear attack occurred in Chamoli's Maroda area, injuring a villager identified as Jaspal Singh. Singh's nose was severely injured, and he was given first aid before being rushed to AIIMS Rishikesh.
The data from the Uttarakhand forest department paints a grim picture of the escalating conflict. So far this year, the state has recorded 64 human deaths and 467 injuries in wildlife-related incidents. Black bears alone are responsible for at least eight of those deaths and 95 injuries. In a recent similar case, a black bear with cubs was spotted in the front yard of a house in Uttarkashi.
