Sunil Negi / Dehradun, 29 August 2026
In a remarkable tale of courage from the Terai region of Uttarakhand, a 17-year-old boy fought off a tiger attack and forced the big cat to flee, at a time when man-eater terror has gripped the state.
The incident took place near Surai Range of Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district. Victim Ishwar Singh Bisht, resident of village Bagga Chauhan, was returning home from Nooria Bazaar on foot when a tiger suddenly pounced on him and started dragging him into the forest.
Despite the terrifying attack, Ishwar did not lose courage and fought back bare-handed. Hearing his screams, local passers-by and villagers rushed to the spot. Seeing more people arriving, the tiger left the injured boy and escaped into the forest.
Ishwar sustained serious injuries on his neck and hands. After primary treatment at Khatima hospital, he was referred to a higher centre.
This bravery comes amid a sharp rise in man-animal conflict in Uttarakhand.
According to Forest Department data, 36 people have been killed in wildlife attacks in just first 6 months of 2026 – 15 by leopards, 11 by tigers. In 2025, 68 people and in 2024, 84 people were killed. Total toll since state formation has crossed 1,325.
Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, Almora and Rudraprayag are the worst hit. In last one week alone, Pauri reported three leopard attacks, in Bhimtal two women were killed in January. In Rudraprayag, a 5-year-old boy Daksh Bisht was snatched from his courtyard in February.
Despite over 109 shoot-at-sight and cage orders issued in 15 months, the department has managed to cage only 34 leopards out of 62 entering villages. Villagers allege forest teams come for formality and leave. Cages lie empty, response teams arrive hours late, and compensation is delayed for months.
Experts blame shrinking prey base, pine forest fires, garbage dumping near villages and widening of roads through corridors for animals straying into villages. But the Dhami government is yet to come up with a concrete man-animal conflict mitigation policy, solar fencing, prey augmentation or night patrolling.
Ishwar’s courage saved his life, but hundreds in the hills are not so lucky.
