Asifabad: A tiger was sighted near a railway cabin at a crossing close to Vempalli village in Asifabad's Sirpur (Tandur) mandal on Tuesday, triggering panic among motorists and locals.
The incident was reported after a railway lineman recorded the tiger on his mobile phone and shared the footage with his colleagues, who then alerted the forest department.
Asifabad district forest officer Neeraj Kumar Tibrewal confirmed the sighting and said they were closely monitoring the tiger's movements. "A cattle kill was also reported in the area, which suggests the tiger's presence nearby," Tibrewal said. Locals in Hudkili village alleged that a calf tied to a wooden pole was killed by the tiger, adding to fears in the region. Motorists and residents expressed concerns about safety, particularly in areas frequented by the tiger.
Meanwhile, tension persists in Kagaznagar, where concerns about tiger attacks on humans remain high. Mirza Kareem Baig, a representative of Forest and Wildlife Protection Society (FAWPS), claimed that the tiger involved in recent human attacks in Kagaznagar is not Johnny, the big cat from Umred in Maharashtra. "Where has Johnny gone?" he asked, suggesting the presence of another tiger in the region. Forest officials are continuing efforts to track and monitor the movements of the tiger to prevent further incidents and ensure public safety.