A shepherd was killed and two others were injured badly when a bear attacked them near Devarapalle village of Kothacheruvu mandal on Saturday afternoon.
The injured shepherds were shifted to Penukonda government hospital. While one of them succumbed to injuries on his way to hospital and the remaining two were said to be battling for life.
According to information reaching here, three shepherds including Srinivasulu (35), Prasad (30) and Tirupal (32) from Munimadugu villlage of Penukonda mandal took their sheep for grazing in the forest near Devarapalle.
A bear suddenly strayed into the area where the sheep were grazing and attacked the sheep.
Their efforts to shout it away proved futile and by the time they scrambled for sticks to attack it, the three of them were injured.
On hearing the cries of the shepherds, the villagers rushed to the spot and killed the bear with sticks and stones. Police visited the spot and a case has been registered.