Poonch, July 8: A woman was seriously injured in a bear attack in the Arai Malkaan area of Mandi tehsil in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday, marking the third consecutive day of similar incidents in the region.
According to local sources, Tazeem Akhtar, wife of Mohammad Taj and a resident of Arai Malkaan, was attacked by a bear while carrying out routine work near her home. Hearing her cries for help, nearby residents rushed to the spot, forcing the animal to flee after leaving her critically injured.
She was immediately shifted to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Mandi, where doctors provided first aid before referring her to the District Hospital, Poonch, for advanced treatment. She is currently undergoing medical care.
The latest incident follows similar bear attacks reported from Sawjian and Loran over the past two days, raising serious concerns among residents of Mandi tehsil.
Locals have alleged that despite repeated attacks and growing human-wildlife conflict, the Wildlife Department and district administration have not taken adequate preventive measures. They have urged the Lieutenant Governor-led administration to take immediate steps to relocate the bears from residential areas to nearby forests and ensure the safety of villagers.
(Agencies)
