M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Oct 2: Bears in Latehar seem to have become another problem for the residents. The latest victim, a 30-year-old villager Krishna Singh, a tribal of the village Karkat under the Netarhat police station in Latehar district, has been bitten by a bear.
According to the Mahuadnr ranger Brinda Pandey, the victim had taken his cattle to the jungle to graze on Saturday. There, a single bear attacked him injuring his forearm and leg.
Pandey said the victim was rushed to the community health centre at Mahuadanr where he was given first aid.
Medical officer in-charge of the centre Dr Amit Khalkho said that the victim was taken care of. Ranger Pandey said the victim was referred to the Sadar Hospital in Latehar where he would have anti rabies shots administered without further delay.
Meanwhile, sources have claimed that numbers in bear attacks have increased in the past two months or so in the Mahuadanr range.
Mukesh Kumar, deputy director South division of the PTR said, “We have repeatedly urged villagers to not go in the forest in the evening or early morning. However, our requests fall on deaf ears. Some of them pay a price in the form of attacks by bears.
Kumar said there is no other way to avert or avoid bear attack than going to the jungles with care and caution and remaining alert about bear sightings.
Kumar further added, “PTR personnel ensure that victims of bear, leopard or any kind of bite from a wild animal are treated. We also ensure that victims are administered the anti rabies vaccine in time by a doctor. However, before the vaccination we make sure that doctors suggest the same to victims after proper examination.
Notably, Singh was attacked by the bear around 4 in the evening. This is a time when there isn’t much visibility, which is suitable for a bear to attack someone.
Pandey said, “We are assisting the victim’s family in the form of treatment cost.”
