Gadchiroli: A 45-year-old daily-wage labourer was allegedly mauled to death by a tiger while collecting wild mushrooms in a forest adjoining Vasa village under the Porla forest range in Gadchiroli district early Wednesday.
Fatal Tiger Attack in Forest Raises Alarm Among Villagers
Authorities have confirmed that Raut was killed in a tiger attack, based on the analysis of injury patterns, the condition of the body, and observed tiger movements in the forest corridor. Following the incident, police and forestry officials conducted a panchnama, which is an official investigation, and examined the site before transporting the body for a postmortem examination.
This tragic event has raised significant concerns among local villagers who frequently enter the forests to collect firewood, tendu leaves, and other seasonal forest products. The safety of those who work in these areas is now under heightened scrutiny as the threat of wildlife encounters becomes more pronounced.
The deceased, Balu Vitthal Raut, who depended on forest resources for his livelihood, entered the forest early on Sept 23 to collect mushrooms. Range forest officer (RFO) Rajesh Panchbhai claimed that ex gratia aid of ₹20,000 has been given to the family of the deceased labourer and an additional ₹30,000 will be paid on Friday. When he failed to return home for several hours, his family alerted villagers, who launched a search operation.
The rest of the compensation amount will be provided after completion of documental formalities.