Panic and anger erupted in the Ramnagar region of Nainital on Friday following a fatal tiger attack that claimed the life of a 55-year-old woman. The incident, which occurred while the victim was gathering firewood, has intensified the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in the area and led to significant public unrest.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The victim, identified as Sukhiya Devi, a 55-year-old resident of Swalde village from the Buxa tribal community, had entered a forest area near her village with a group including her son, daughter, and son-in-law. According to officials, a tiger suddenly emerged and attacked her. Despite frantic efforts by her companions to raise an alarm and scare the animal away, the tiger overpowered the woman and dragged her 200–300 metres deep into the forest. Her body was later recovered by villagers.
Public Outrage and Official Response
The killing triggered immediate and intense protests. Villagers staged a road blockade and held a dharna for several hours, demanding that the forest department either capture or eliminate the tiger responsible. Following assurances from officials, the victim's body was sent for a post-mortem examination. Dhela range officer Bhanu Prakash Harbola confirmed that the post-mortem would be conducted on Sunday morning and that 30% of the compensation amount had already been released to the family.
Local resident Sanjay Negi told media that such incidents are not entirely unexpected, especially during the sensitive months of January and February. "Many families here depend entirely on forest resources. We had flagged growing fear among villagers that such incidents could occur," he said. He urged the government to arrange alternative supplies of fodder and firewood during these critical months to reduce the need for villagers to enter forest zones.
Forest Department's Stance and Safety Measures
Range officer Harbola acknowledged the villagers' requests, stating, "We had held a meeting with villagers a few days ago, during which they demanded government support for fodder and firewood. A proposal is being prepared and will be sent to the administration."
Forest officials reiterated that residents had previously been advised to take precautions, such as entering forests only in large groups, making noise to alert wildlife, and avoiding deep forest areas. However, villagers countered that "these precautions were no longer sufficient" given the increasing danger.
In the aftermath of the attack, security has been tightened. Residents have been advised to stay indoors and avoid forest visits until further notice. Simultaneously, forest department teams have intensified monitoring of the tiger's movements in an effort to prevent any further attacks and restore a sense of safety in the troubled region.
