Farmer injured in bear attack in Sathya Sai district-OxBig News Network

A farmer was critically injured in a wild bear attack while he was returning home at S. Rayapuram village, Madakasira mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district on Friday night.

According to the forest officials, 38-year-old Booth Raju was walking along an isolated stretch towards the village when the bear emerged from the bushes and suddenly pounced on him. Raju received deep gashes in the arms and legs. Hearing his agonized shrieks, the villagers rushed to his rescue, forcing the bear to flee into the abutting forest. He was rushed in an 108 ambulance to the government hospital at Madakasira for treatment.

Former MLC G. Tippeswamy reached the hospital and spoke to Raju and his family members, and urged he medical officers attending on him to extend quality medicare to the injured. The doctors said that the condition of Raju was stable, and for advanced treatment, he had been shifted to the Government Hospital at Hindupur.

Forest officials in Puttaparthi said that the incidence of sighting bears in the Madakasira area had been on the increase as the animals were straying into human habitations in search of food and water after their availability went dry in the hilly terrain. The forest officials informed the villagers to be vigilant while moving out at the twilight hours, both at dawn and dusk.