By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Uttarkashi, 29 Nov: The growing menace of bears in Uttarkashi district has led to panic among the villagers, forcing them to approach the Forest Department for urgent intervention. Incidents of bears breaking into huts and houses have become quite frequent and they are causing extensive damage as well as spreading fear across several settlements. A recent case has emerged from Jabilch Tok in Jakhol village, situated within the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary of Mori block, where a bear entered the settlement at night and smashed the doors of multiple houses and huts, inflicting considerable damage. The unexpected attack has naturally triggered panic, forcing the villagers to remain awake throughout the night in fear.
Villagers, including Ganga Singh Rawat, Dham Singh, Gaur Singh, Jagdish, Tali Ram, Jayendra Singh, Raji Singh, Bhagwan Singh and Faganu, stated that the bear had been roaming near the village over the past several days. Initially, it targeted people working in the forests and attacked livestock, and was often seen near fields, cowsheds and forest paths. However, now its movement is also being noticed near the residential areas, making it increasingly unsafe for the villagers.
The residents recounted that the bear entered the settlement during the night and it went from house to house, breaking doors. Wooden and tin doors of several homes were damaged in the attack. Hearing the noise and the sound of doors being smashed, people locked themselves inside their homes, afraid to step out. Though the villagers somehow got through the night, fear continues to prevail in the village, particularly among women and children. They have expressed concern over the bear’s increasingly aggressive behaviour and warned that a major tragedy could occur if immediate action is not taken. They demanded that the Forest Department send a team to capture the bear and relocate it to a safer location at the earliest.
The villagers reached the Forest Department office and submitted a memorandum to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), stating that the rising bear attacks have created a climate of fear across the district. They urged the forest authorities to take decisive steps to end the terror.
Park’s Deputy Director Nidhi Semwal has confirmed that the complaint has been received late at night regarding the bear damaging doors of houses and huts in Jabilch Tok of the Jakhol range. She said Range Officer Gaurav Agarwal and a team of forest staff had been rushed to the site. Damage assessment and monitoring of safety measures are in progress, and compensation will be processed once the report is completed.
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