Bison Attack Kills Two Women in Latehar Forest

Latehar: A wild bison attacked and killed two women in the Gurikaram forest of Latehar district on Monday. A third woman sustained severe injuries in a separate attack by the same animal in the Lath region.

The deceased, identified as Shilamaniya Devi (64) and Shanti Kunwar (50), had entered the forest within the Chhipadohar western range to collect mahua. When they did not return by Monday evening, family members searched and discovered their bodies on Tuesday. Police and Forest Department personnel subsequently recovered the remains and sent them to Latehar Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination.

In a related incident, the bison attacked another woman in a nearby forested area. Local villagers rescued her, and she is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

Following the attacks, the Forest Department provided immediate financial assistance of ₹50,000 to each of the bereaved families. Officials stated that the remaining compensation of ₹3.5 lakh will be disbursed upon completion of formal procedures.

Local residents have called for increased safety measures for those living near wildlife habitats to prevent further human-wildlife conflict. A joint team from the police and the Forest Department remains in the area to monitor the situation.