Handwara, July 30: A 50-year-old woman lost her life after being brutally attacked by a wild bear in Mirpura village of Qalambad on Monday evening.
The incident occurred when the woman went to a nearby garden to gather vegetables.
According to residents, the wild bear attacked her leaving her severely injured. Despite raising the alarm and immediate action from the villagers, the woman was found unconscious and was rushed to Associated Hospital GMC Handwara where the doctors declared her dead upon arrival.
The deceased has been identified as Zarifa Begum, wife of Farooq Ahmed Khan, resident of Mirpora, Qalamabad.
The villagers expressed their frustration and sorrow over the incident, saying they had repeatedly informed wildlife officials about the presence of a wild bear in the area. They claimed that the lack of response from the authorities led to this fatal attack.
A wildlife officer, confirming the incident, said they consistently advise residents not to venture alone into nearby gardens or areas due to the risk of wild animal encounters. He stressed the importance of local awareness regarding the movements of wild animals into residential areas in search of food.
The residents demanded the immediate capture of the wild bear to prevent further tragedies. They believe that with timely intervention, future incidents could be avoided.
