Dehradun: Uttarakhand is currently witnessing a bear menace, raising concerns for both the Forest Department and the government. In the past few months, a significant number of bear attacks have been recorded in mountainous regions. Consequently, the Forest Department is continuously urging people to exercise caution. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of Forests on Saturday regarding the bear menace, which has become a topic of discussion across the state. During the meeting, the CM directed that the government will bear the entire cost of treatment for those injured in bear or other wildlife attacks.
Expressing concern over the increasing incidents of wildlife conflict in the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami issued several necessary directives to officials. The Chief Minister also directed the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of Forests that the state government will bear the entire cost of treatment for those injured in bear or other wildlife attacks. The Chief Minister stated that providing timely and quality medical care to every injured person is the government’s top priority. He directed the concerned departments to ensure there is no delay in treatment and that the necessary resources are immediately available.
The Chief Minister issued strict instructions to officials to provide the best possible treatment to the injured, as well as to improve security and awareness measures in the affected areas. However, the Uttarakhand State Government has already increased the compensation amount from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh for the families of those killed in wildlife attacks in the state. In the last five years, bears have killed 14 people and injured 438 others in Uttarakhand.
Due to the increasing number of bear attacks in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, local villagers are expressing their anger against the Forest Department. It is worrying that bear attacks are currently occurring in areas where such incidents were previously absent. This is why the Forest Department is urging people to take all precautions amid the growing bear menace. According to the Forest Department, bears are facing food shortages due to a decline in food availability and the decline in certain crops, leading to bears moving closer to human settlements.
Bear Attacks Apple Orchard: Another bear attack occurred in Uttarkashi. A bear fatally attacked and injured a Nepali man working in an apple orchard in Harshil. Nearby residents brought the injured man to the Harshil Primary Health Center for first aid, where doctors referred him to the district hospital. The bear attack has created an atmosphere of panic in Harshil and surrounding villages.
The bear menace continues to spread in various villages of the border development block, Bhatwadi. On Saturday, Hari Bahadur was working in an apple orchard in Harshil when a bear, lying in wait, fatally attacked him. The bear attack left Hari Bahadur with deep wounds to his face and body. Forest personnel from the Gangotri Range provided first aid to the injured Hari in Harshil. From there, doctors referred Hari Bahadur to the District Hospital, Uttarkashi.
The injured Hari is currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital. Incidents of human-wildlife conflict are increasing day by day in various villages of the border development block, Bhatwadi. Meanwhile, villagers are unable to go to their fields or the forest for fodder due to the fear of bears in rural areas.
Forest Range Officer Yashwant Chauhan stated that Hari Bahadur, who was working in an apple orchard in Harshil, was attacked by a bear. The injured person is undergoing treatment at the district hospital.
Bear attacks on 9 people in the district, two dead: Bear terror continues in several rural areas of Bhatwadi, Chinyalisaur, and Mori in Uttarkashi district. Since October 26th, 8 people in Bhatwadi and 1 person in Mori have been seriously injured in bear attacks, while two women have died. Locals believe that this is the first time in the last decade that bears have become so violent. Disaster Management Officer Shardul Gusain said that nine bear attacks have occurred in the district so far. Two women have died, while seven others are injured. They are being treated at the district hospital and the Heart Center.
