Team Herald
PONDA: A 60-yr-old woman Mangal Shantaram Gaude who was gored by a bison in the backyard of her home at Bondbag on Saturday succumbed to her injuries at the GMC, on Sunday.
The backyard, which comprises coconut trees, bananas, and betel nuts, became the scene of the tragic event. The daughter-in-law of the deceased, who witnessed the attack, expressed her deep distress at being unable to rescue her. She recounted the incident, which occurred at around 6 pm, when her mother-in-law heard a noise coming from behind the house. Both women opened the back door to investigate and saw the animal. Despite her daughter-in-law's warning not to approach the creature, suspecting it might be a bison, the senior woman attempted to drive it away, mistakenly believing it to be a buffalo. Tragically, the wild animal launched a severe attack, goring her in the stomach and flinging her four to five metres away onto the ground.
The daughter-in-law cried for help and rushed the critically injured woman to the Sub District Hospital before transferring her to GMC, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries Sunday morning.
A shocked local resident, Shamba Gaude, commented, “With no food in the forest, wild animals are reaching villages,” noting that wild bison movements are frequently observed in the area.
He further stated, “We live in fear, and as evening falls, it becomes difficult to go out as bison arrive, sometimes in herds, and even squat on the road.” He emphasised that the surrounding area is forested, and the forest staff are aware of the wild animal movements in the region and urged the forest department and forest guards to take the matter seriously, questioning whether authorities would take action following the deaths of locals.
Residents are calling for urgent action, as wild bison are freely roaming in this residential area, sometimes blocking roads. They believe these animals should be driven deeper into the forest to prevent further incidents.