Tiger claims 1st human in Maha Pench after 3-year lull

Nagpur: A man was mauled by a tiger in Chargaon beat of Paoni Unified Control area under the Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, on Thursday morning.
The victim has been identified as Gaurishankar Dinaji Shreebhadre (29), a resident of Maudi village near Sillari in Ramtek tehsil. Shreebhadre had ventured deep into the forest to collect fodder for goats when the incident took place in compartment number 586.
This is the first case of man-animal conflict in the area after a gap of three years. The last incident that occurred was on April 15, 2020, when a 56-year-old man, who ventured into the forest to collect mahua flowers, was attacked in the West Pench range.
Pench field director A Sreelakshmi has released ex gratia amount of Rs50,000 to wife of the victim Vandana Shreebhadre and also sanctioned Rs20 lakh as per government policy.
Pench deputy director Prabhu Nath Shukla said, “Of the Rs20 lakh, a cheque of Rs10 lakh will be handed over to the kin of the victim while the remaining Rs10 lakh will be kept as fixed deposits of Rs5 lakh each for a tenure of 5 years and 10 years.”
“It is suspected that Shreebhadre was mauled by a young tiger trying to establish its territory in the area. The victim must have been in a crouch position while cutting the grass. A friend accompanying Shreebhadre managed to escape from the spot and informed villagers about the incident,” said Shukla.
ACF Atul Deokar said, “We have deployed Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and additional staff for patrolling in the area. Villagers have been advised not to venture into the forest.”