RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Public anxiety continues to grow as the elusive tiger that entered the district remains untraced despite extensive search operations on Tuesday. According to Forest Range Officer Daveedu Raju, fresh pugmarks were found in agricultural fields at Gadala village, indicating the tiger’s movement around Gadala, Undreswarapuram, Madhurapudi and nearby villages in Korukonda mandal in East Godavari.
JSP MLA Battula Balaramakrishna urged farmers and agricultural labourers to postpone fieldwork for the next two days as a precautionary measure.
The MLA said the tiger had moved away from the Godavari River, crossed the Rajamahendravaram-Rampachodavaram National Highway and was suspected to be hiding in the Gadala-Undreswarapuram belt. He noted that nearly 10 villages fall within the tiger movement zone and alerted residents of Katheru and Mirthipadu to remain cautious.
The MLA said he spoke to Forest Conservator B.N.N. Murthy and requested the formation of special teams to expedite tracking operations and ensure public safety.
Forest officials said the tiger is suspected to have migrated from Chhattisgarh and was first spotted in the Koyyalagudem area of Eluru district on January 20. It crossed the Godavari near the Pattiseema project on January 30 and later moved through Seethanagaram mandal. Despite deployment of drone surveillance, trap cameras and cages, the animal’s current location remains uncertain.
No need for panic over tiger movement: Minister Kandula Durgesh
Minister for Tourism Kandula Durgesh has said there is no need for people to panic over reports of a tiger being spotted near Rajanagaram in East Godavari district, as the Forest Department is making intensive efforts to capture the animal.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Minister said he spoke to district forest officials and reviewed the latest situation. He was informed that traps, cages, drone surveillance and trap cameras have been deployed in the area and that the tiger’s movement has been traced near Torredu and Seetanagaram in recent days. Officials expressed confidence that the animal would be captured soon.