Four women were killed after they were mauled by a tigress and her cubs in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district early Friday. The incident marks the seventh fatal tiger attack reported from the district this year.
According to the state forest department, the deceased were identified as Sangeeta Choudhary (50), Kawdabai Mohurle (45), Anubai Mohurle (40) and Sunita Mohurle (38).
Forest officials said the women had entered the forest adjoining Gunjewahi village in Chandrapur to collect tendu leaves when they were attacked. Tendu leaf collection, carried out between April and June, is a crucial seasonal livelihood for many tribal households in Maharashtra, with the leaves used in bidi manufacturing.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Chief Conservator of Forests Ramanujam R M said preliminary investigation suggests the women were attacked by a tiger family comprising a tigress and three sub-adult cubs.
“The village adjoins the Brahmapuri division of the forest where we have located the presence of a tiger family comprising one tigress and three cubs. We had informed the villagers not to go into the forest for the time being,” Ramanujam said.
He added that three of the victims — Kawdabai, Anubai and Sunita — had earlier been intercepted by forest officials during patrols on May 14 after allegedly trespassing into the forest and were escorted home.
“The three cubs are presently in their adolescent stage which means they are more than two years in age and are about to get dispersed from their mothers. This is a dangerous age for tigers because at this point they act in an aggressive and mischievous way,” Ramanujam said.
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Following the incident, forest authorities announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 25,000 each to the victims’ families. Surveillance in the area has also been intensified, with three live-monitoring cameras and 30 camera traps installed in and around the forest.
Authorities have imposed a blanket ban on villagers entering the forest to collect tendu leaves until further notice.
A local villager told The Indian Express that Kawdabai, Anubai and Sunita belonged to Khairi Golkar village. “The summer season is the only time for harvesting that we get. Therefore, we have no option but to go to the forest to pick up the leaves,” the villager said.
Local activist Ram Dhotre, who has campaigned against infrastructure expansion in the Tadoba-Chandrapur belt, linked the rising human-animal conflict to mining-related deforestation in the region. “Over the past six-seven years, the government has given large parcels of forest lands to private entities for creating mines. These activities have created an imbalance in nature because of which animals are entering human habitation leading to man-animal conflicts,” he said.
Tiger attack incidents in Chandrapur this year
Date – Victim
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March – Kashinath Lonwale (60)
March – Sunita Bhoyar (43)
April – Shankar Masram (46)
April – Unidentified elderly woman
Tiger population in Chandrapur:
221 (as per 2021) rising from 34 in 2006
More than 250 human deaths linked to tiger attacks between 2015 and 2026 in Maharashtra
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
