Chamba: A group of bears attacked two women in the Kalwara forest of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, leading to the death of one and serious injuries to the other.
The two women, identified as 44-year-old Pinky Devi and her sister-in-law 56-year-old Thanthi Devi, were cutting grass when they were attacked by the bears on Friday (September 13, 2024) morning.
Pinky Devi, wife of Sarno Ram from Dalpa village, died while Thanthi Devi, wife of Lehru Ram, was rushed to the Medical College in Chamba, where her condition is stated to be critical.
The incident occurred around 10 am when the two women, who had entered the forest at 9 am, were suddenly attacked by bears lying in wait. The women screamed for help, alerting nearby villagers who rushed to the scene and managed to scare the bears away. Both women were taken to the hospital, but despite efforts, Pinky Devi was declared dead on arrival, while Thanthi Devi received medical treatment and is recovering.
Following the incident, forest department officials provided immediate financial assistance to the affected families. The family of the deceased was given Rs 10,000 while Rs 5,000 was provided to the injured woman.
Forest officials have taken measures to prevent further bear attacks by setting off firecrackers and making loud noises to drive the bears away from the forested area. Additional assistance for the family of the deceased will be processed soon.
