Elderly woman attacked, killed by royal bengal tiger in Odisha’s Sunabeda sanctuary

Nuapada: Panic gripped local residents after an elderly woman was reportedly attacked and killed by a royal bengal tiger in Sunabeda sanctuary of Nuapada district in Odisha here on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Sanamati Barik (65) of Jalamadei village within Komna police limits of the district.

Sources said Sanamati had gone to her backyard to collect firewood when the big cat attacked her and dragged her away. When she did not return home, family members launched a frantic search only to find her half-eaten body in the jungle the next day. Forest officials on getting the information reached the spot and started investigation. While it is still not established if the attack was by a leopard or a royal bengal tiger, official sources said the manner of attack points towards the latter.

“From the pattern of eating the flesh and sucking blood from the body, it seems the attack was not by a leopard but by a royal bengal tiger,” shared Sunabeda Wildlife forester Siba Prasad Khamari.

Meanwhile, official sources said probe is underway and villagers have been asked to remain alert.