Bhopal: A 42-year-old villager survived a tiger attack in Balaghat on Monday after striking the animal with a stick during a sudden encounter in his field. The incident marks the fourth tiger attack reported in the district within 19 days.
Santosh Meshram was working in his field in Kareli village, located near the forest area adjoining Kanha National Park, when the tiger suddenly charged at him. As the animal attacked, Santosh hit it on the head with a stick and raised an alarm. The tiger fled into the forest after nearby villagers rushed to the spot.
Santosh sustained injuries to the back of his head and both hands. He was taken to a hospital in Baihar, where doctors treated his head wound with stitches. Officials said he also had claw marks on his hands and remained in stable condition under observation.
The incident highlights the growing risk of human-tiger encounters in villages situated near forest areas of Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a similar incident was reported in Bandhavgarh, where a herd of buffaloes helped protect a 36-year-old herder, Ramnaresh Singh, when a tigress attacked him. The buffaloes charged at the animal, forcing it to retreat and allowing Singh to escape.
The Balaghat incident follows three other reported tiger attacks since August 2. Sugnibai was attacked while sleeping at her home in Baigatola, Parrapur, on August 2 and later succumbed to her injuries. Another attack was reported on August 7. On August 10, elderly Devakram Baghmare and two cattle were attacked while grazing near the forest in Khairlanji. Devakram and the cattle were killed in the incident.
