Jayapur: A woman was mauled to death by a bear while collecting vegetables from a field in Tokiguda village under Bodigaon in Borigumma block of Koraput district on Saturday, triggering concern among locals over the alleged rise in bear attacks in the area.
The deceased, identified as Parbati Muduli, had gone to the field when she encountered a mother bear accompanied by two cubs hiding in the vegetation. The animal attacked her, leaving her critically injured.
Hearing her cries for help, villagers rushed to the spot and drove the bear away before rescuing her. She was initially taken to Kumuli Hospital and later shifted to the Borigumma Community Health Centre (CHC), where doctors declared her dead.
Villagers alleged that bear menace had persisted in the Bodigaon area for nearly two months. They also questioned the forest department’s patrolling and demanded effective measures to prevent further attacks.
