Bhopal– In a deeply tragic incident, another fatal tiger attack has occurred in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district—marking the second such death in less than two weeks.
Early Friday morning, 35-year-old Anil Bhalawi, son of Anandan Singh Bhalawi, was mauled to death near his native village, Kachhar, in the Katangi police station jurisdiction. His mutilated body was later found in a nearby forested area.
Vijay Dabur, Additional Superintendent of Police, confirmed the attack and told IANS that the tiger had partially consumed the rear portion of the victim’s body, indicating that he was dragged into the jungle before being killed.
The attack occurred near the Sonewani forest, a region known for its tiger presence but lacking formal wildlife sanctuary status or protective infrastructure.
According to initial accounts from Anil’s family, he had entered the forest at dawn to collect mahua flowers and tendu leaves—used to roll bidis—a seasonal livelihood activity for many in the tribal community.
Following the attack, the tiger retreated into dense vegetation and has not yet been located.
Despite its rich biodiversity and a healthy tiger population, Sonewani remains an unprotected reserve forest, sparking renewed concerns about wildlife management and public safety.
This latest incident comes on the heels of a similar tragedy on May 3, when 50-year-old tribal farmer Prakash Pane was killed by a tiger while working on his farm in the Tirodi police station area.
Outraged villagers have launched protests, accusing forest authorities of ignoring repeated warnings about tiger sightings over the past two months. With panic spreading, local residents are demanding stronger safety measures to prevent future attacks.
Following the earlier incident, the tiger responsible was tranquilized and relocated to Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal.
So far in 2025, at least six tiger-human conflict cases have been reported—four in Bandhavgarh and two in Balaghat.
A forest department official told IANS that tigers often stray into human settlements due to a declining prey base, leading to attacks on livestock and, occasionally, people. The big cats frequently traverse the Pench-Kanha corridor and sometimes venture into buffer zones where human activity is common.
Officials estimate that approximately 30 to 35 tigers inhabit the region, and the tiger involved in Friday’s attack is believed to be one of them. (Source: IANS)
