BHUPALPALLY: Panic swept through Kataram and surrounding villages in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Saturday after two villagers narrowly escaped a tiger attack in the thick forest area.
According to the Kataram Forest Range Officer (FRO) J Swathi, the two villagers, Dasari Sambaiah and Raju, ventured into the forest on their bullock cart to gather firewood.
At Vudipilavancha near Erra Cheruvu, they encountered the tiger. “Hearing the noise, the tiger stretched out to attack us. We escaped by another route. Luckily we narrowly escaped death,” Sambaiah recalled.
Pugmarks found, high alert sounded
Upon receiving the complaint, Deputy Range Officer (DRO) H Surendra Naik and his team were immediately dispatched to the area.
Speaking to TNIE, The DRO confirmed the discovery of fresh pugmarks at Vudipilavancha and Erra Cheruvu. “We suspect the tiger came to drink water and left through the Veerapur and Guduru forest area, which is a convenient habitat for tigers,” the DRO stated.
Upon finding the pugmarks, officials issued a high alert, particularly to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers, cautioning them against entering the forest. Village secretaries made urgent announcements through Dappu Chatimpu, a traditional drumming method, in Vudipilavancha, Erra Cheruvu, Veerapur, Gummadavalli, and Adivarampet to ensure public safety.
In view of the Ugadi festival, forest authorities have urged villagers to avoid forest areas for cattle grazing and other activities for at least three days. Forest teams have also deployed closure circuit cameras and night vision cameras to monitor tiger movement.