SRIKAKULAM: Two farmers were killed and another was injured in a bear attack on the outskirts of Anakapalle village in Vajrapukotturu mandal in the district on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as Appikonda Kurma Rao (50) and Sidipalli Lokanatham (45). The injured farmer, Sidipalli Savitri, was shifted to Palasa Hospital.
Forest Range Officer (FRO) A Murali Krishna Naidu said Lokanatham and his wife Savitri were working in their cashew orchard when the bear suddenly appeared and attacked them. Kurma Rao, who was working in the nearby farm, reached the spot on his tractor after hearing the couple’s cry for help. The bear dragged Rao from the driving seat and attacked him, too.
On hearing the commotion, locals in the village also reached the cashew orchard and attacked the bear with sticks and stones. They rescued Savitri after the bear fled. Unfortunately, Rao and Lokanatham died due to severe blood loss.
Subsequently, Palasa-Kasibugga Range forest officials reached the spot and sounded a high alert in Anakapalli and neighbouring villages on receiving information about the bear attack. Forest officials handed over the bodies to their families after completing the post-mortem.
Later, the bereaved family members and residents of Anakapalli staged a dharna, accusing the forest officials of “not taking any measures despite the frequent incursions of wild bears into human habitations”.
Alleging that forest officials have failed in preventing the man-animal conflict especially in the Uddanam region, the protestors claimed that the officials would come to the field only when an animal attack was reported and remain confined to their offices otherwise.
DFO Nisha Kumari said, “Compensation to the families of the deceased and the injured farmer will be paid. Medical expenses will also be covered as per norms. The Forest Department is taking steps to avoid the man-animal conflict by creating awareness among the villagers and alerting them when a bear is found to be moving in the area.”
The frequent incursions of bears into cashew orchards has triggered panic among the locals in Uddanam region, particularly in Vajrapukottur and Mandasa mandals. It may be recalled that three persons were killed when a bear had attacked them while they were working in cashew orchards in Kidisingi village under Vajrapukotturu Mandal on June 20, 2022.