SUNIL NEGI
A 52-year-old woman showed remarkable bravery in Dadal village, Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, after she was attacked by a female bear while cutting grass in her field.
The incident occurred on Monday evening around 5 pm, about 100 meters from her house, when Champa Devi came face to face with a female bear that had arrived with her two cubs. Seeing her cubs nearby, the mother bear became aggressive and attacked Champa Devi, injuring her leg. Despite the sudden attack, Champa did not lose courage. She defended herself with the sickle she was holding and shouted loudly for help.
Hearing her screams, local villagers rushed to the field. On seeing the crowd, the bear fled towards the forest, but left her two cubs behind in the field, causing panic. Villagers noticed that one cub had climbed a tree in fear while the other was trapped in a net lying in the field. They immediately informed the forest department and waited without disturbing the cubs.
A forest team led by SDO Berinag Neha Soun and Range Officer Chanda Mehra reached the spot, safely rescued both cubs and released them into the forest.
The injured woman was first taken to the local health centre and later referred to a higher medical centre in Bageshwar, where she is under treatment.
This attack is part of a growing pattern. Bear attacks have increased phenomenally in Uttarakhand in the past three months. Bears are now a problem in 17 of the state’s 38 forest divisions. Official data shows 438 people have been injured by bears in the last five years and 327 people killed in wildlife attacks in the last decade. In Pauri alone more than 12 people have been seriously injured in bear attacks in the past year. In Chamoli on September 4, two women died in Sideli Tok village after a bear attack. In July 2026 the forest department was forced to authorize shooting of three bears and 13 leopards identified as habitual attackers after tranquilizing attempts failed.
