Woman Killed in Tiger Attack in Maharashtra's Gondia District

A 65-year-old woman, identified as Shobha Haridas Rahate of Vadegaon Bandya village, was killed in a tiger attack Sunday morning in compartment number 775 of the Gothangaon forest range in Arjuni Morgaon tehsil, Gondia district, a forest department official confirmed. She had gone to collect tendu leaves when the attack occurred.

Her daughter-in-law, who was with her, raised an alarm, causing the tiger to flee into the forest. The forest department has deployed a Rapid Response Team from Navegaonbandh, along with camera traps and a cage, to locate and capture the animal. Immediate compensation of Rs 50,000 has been disbursed to the victim's family, with the remainder pending formalities.

The incident follows a similar attack on Saturday, when 47-year-old Sunita Chandrakumar Hatwar was injured by a tiger in Bondgaon Surban. Officials noted that residents across the district are currently collecting mahua flowers and tendu leaves, a seasonal activity crucial to their livelihoods, but one that increases the risk of human-wildlife encounters.

Forest authorities have intensified surveillance in the affected areas and are assessing whether the tiger involved poses a recurring threat. The court-monitored wildlife management protocol will guide next steps, including possible relocation or trapping of the animal.