The 13 women from Sindewahi taluka had been up early to put in some work; for many, the leaves are what put food on the table. But at about 8 am, a tiger they say was in the thick of the bushes made its move. Four didn’t make it. The rest ran for their lives as the news of what had happened drew in villagers. Nine of them returned from the morning’s outing.
Key developments so far include:
– Four women killed while collecting tendu leaves
– Attack reported around 8 am
– Incident site in Gunjewahi-Pawanpar, Sindewahi taluka
– Thirteen had gone, nine returned
– Patrolling intensified in the area
– Advisory against venturing deep alone
We have the names of those we’ve lost: Kavita Dadaji Mohurle, 45; her sister Anita, 46; Sangita Santosh Chaudhary, 40; and Sunita Kaushik Mohurle, 33. Police and forest men have been to the scene to do their paperwork and start a panchnama.
Why this attack hits harder
It is a rare thing in the state to see four go down in one go. For the locals, this has put the issue of safety in the open. You can find residents near the forest line in no mood for it, calling for better rules of the ground when they are out in the field.
Officials respond and next steps
Anjali Sayankar, the Range Officer for the area, was on hand to see how the investigation was going. With the place swarming with worried villagers, the authorities have made it plain: don’t be going off into the woods by yourself. They have ratcheted up the patrols for now.
A deadly fortnight in Chandrapur
Some might not like it, but with the probe under way, it is a necessary measure. This is the seventh time in two weeks a tiger has been involved in an incident here. The pattern is enough to unnerve anyone whose living depends on the forest.
You only have to look at what happened a few days back with Kachrabai Bharde, 54, in the Karbada part of the forest. She and her husband Arun and some others were at it when a tiger in the undergrowth pounced. Her husband says he heard her and saw the beast with her before he could run to get the word out. They found her body later on.
Staying vigilant during harvest
Now, with the most active part of the season ahead, officials are telling folks to stay put and not risk it. For a family, following that advice is what stands between making a living and losing everything. Everyone is waiting to be told when and how it is safe to be out there.
