60yo woman seriously injured in bear attack in Rudprarayag

Dehradun: A 60-year-old woman was seriously injured in a bear attack in Chetai village of Rudraprayag district on Tuesday morning while collecting fodder near a forest. Villagers said the animal was hiding in the bushes and suddenly charged at her, mauling her face and head and leaving her profusely bleeding.Nisha Devi was rushed to Augustyamuni community health centre where she received primary treatment before being referred to district hospital in Rudraprayag. Doctors said her condition was stable, but she had clots in her head and required advanced medical care.Meanwhile, villagers and local leaders of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal submitted a memorandum to the district administration, citing recent attacks, including the death of a five-year-old boy last week. Though a suspected leopard was trapped to prevent further attacks, the latest bear attack has once again alarmed residents.UKD district president Surat Singh Jhinkwar warned of protests if the bear was not trapped. "Wildlife attacks are increasing and victims are mostly children or the elderly. Animals entering human habitations must be trapped or eliminated, not those deep inside forests," he said.Quick Response Teams were deployed to assist the victim's family and increase monitoring and awareness in identified hotspot zones. Forest officials said efforts were underway to trap the bear, while also promoting measures for human-wildlife coexistence.