Poonch, Jul 08: 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 such 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 she was engaged in routine work near her home. Hearing her screams, local residents rushed to the spot, prompting the animal to flee after leaving her critically injured.
The injured woman was shifted by ambulance to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Mandi, where she was provided initial treatment before being referred to the District Hospital, Poonch, for advanced medical care. She is currently undergoing treatment.
Notably, similar bear attacks have been reported over the past three days from Sawjian, Loran, and now Arai in Mandi tehsil, triggering fear among residents.
Locals alleged that despite being aware of the recurring incidents and the growing threat posed by bears in remote villages, the Wildlife Department and the administration have failed to take effective measures to protect people.
They urged the Lieutenant Governor-led administration to take immediate notice of the situation and relocate the bears from human habitations to forest areas to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of residents.
