5-year-old girl injured in freshwolf attack in Bahraich’s village

Lucknow: A day after wolves killed a two-and-a-half-year-old girl and injured two women, a five-year-old girl sleeping with her grandmother in the courtyard of her house in Girdharpurwa village of Bahraich was injured in a wolf attack during the wee hours of Tuesday.
This was the third wolf attack in the region in the last three days.
On receiving the news of the attack, senior officials reached the community health centre (CHC) where the girl, Afsana, is undergoing treatment.
Forest department officials have caught four wolves so far. According to officials, a pack of wolves has been attacking villagers, especially children, in the region.
"Afsana was sleeping with me and her father when a wolf attacked her. We don't have a door in our house," said the girl's grandmother, Shabana.
"I was sleeping inside the house and Afsana was sleeping in the courtyard. I rushed out after hearing her screams. My family members and neighbours came out to rescue Afsana after which the wolf escaped leaving the girl behind," the girl's mother, Ruby, said.
Kalim, a neighbour, said that as soon as he heard the girl's screams, he, along with other villagers, chased away the wolf.
Divisional forest officer, Bahraich, Ajeet Pratap Singh said that teams of officials visited the site and met the family. "Despite multiple advisories, the family members were sleeping with the child unguarded," he said.
ADG, Gorakhpur zone, Dr KS Pratap Kumar said, "Under a special strategy, the forest department is implementing a programme in association with the police department. The entire area has been divided into seven parts which will be looked after by one team each. Police teams will maintain vigil on gram panchayats. We will achieve success soon."
Earlier on Monday, a three-year-old girl was killed and two other women were injured in a wolf attack.
Divisional commissioner, Gonda, Shashi Bhushan Lal Sushil has issued directives for the use of drone cameras in sensitive areas.
The commissioner said that the site of the incidents had been inspected multiple times. "Activities have been recorded over a 40km long and 10km wide area where the wolves have been active. A 100-member new team of forest personnel has been deployed in Bahraich," he said.
The forest department has deployed six cameras and drones, while 150 personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) are patrolling the area. At least 32 teams from the revenue department and 25 teams from forest department are working on the ground. Authorities are using loudspeakers to advise residents to stay indoors, keep their children inside, and lock their doors at night, officials said.