Yet another young woman injured in tiger attack in Syalde’s Bablia-Mayalgaon, cage traps ordered as man-animal conflict rises
Sunil Negi
Pauri/Garhwal : A third incident of maneater attack in Bablia-Mayalgaon area of Syalde, Almora district , where a young woman was grievously injured in a tiger attack on Thursday, with one earlier tragic death at Salt block and today’s injury at Rikhnikhal Pauri block has created quite a fear and panic among the residents of these villages and its surroundings . The Syalde victim is currently undergoing treatment at the Community Health Centre, Deghat.
According to initial information, the attack took place near the forest fringe when the woman came face to face with a tiger. She sustained serious injuries and was rushed to CHC Deghat by locals.
Immediately after the incident, senior Forest Department officials were informed and strict action was sought. The department has issued directions to install cage traps in the affected area and has deployed a monitoring team to track the animal’s movement.
Local administration has appealed to all residents to remain alert. “Please do not go towards the forest alone and stay safe,” the appeal said.
The Syalde incident comes amid a fresh surge in man-animal conflict across Uttarakhand, with leopards and tigers increasingly straying into human habitations.
Just two days ago in Pauri’s Rikhunikhal block, Angni village resident Shri Matwar Singh was seriously injured after a tiger attacked him while he was grazing goats near the forest. Matbar Singh though old and weak in health strongly and bravely fought with the tiger and made him run away but suffered a deep wound on his cheek near the ear.
Before that, the state saw multiple fatal attacks in the last few weeks. In July 2026, a 45-year-old man was killed by a leopard in Almora district while collecting fodder. On June 2026 two children died in separate leopard attacks in Nainital and Champawat districts. On May 2026 a woman was mauled to death by a tiger in Corbett buffer area, Ramnagar.
Official Forest Department data and RTI records compiled by conservation groups show a worrying trend:
It shows that between 2015–2024 – over 230 people were killed and more than 600 injured in leopard and tiger attacks across Uttarakhand. In
2023–2024, 28 deaths and 72 injuries were recorded — the highest two-year toll in the last five years. In Pauri Garhwal alone at least 35 fatalities and 90+ injuries in the last 8 years took place and now Rikhunikhal, Thalisain, Dhumakot, Champawat and Syalde have emerged as hotspots.
– This year till August 2026, the state has already reported 14 deaths and 38 injuries due to wild animal attacks.
Experts attribute the rise to habitat pressure, prey depletion, shrinking forest corridors, and expansion of villages close to forest boundaries. Locals say that despite announcements of compensation, cages, and rescue teams, preventive measures remain weak. There is little regular patrolling, no early warning system, and delayed response after an attack.
The Forest Department said that apart from cage traps at Bablia-Mayalgaon, camera traps and a rapid response team have been deployed. The injured woman is being given free treatment and the process for ex-gratia relief has been started as per rules.
Villagers, however, are demanding a long-term plan — solar fencing around habitations, community awareness drives, better compensation, and relocation of problem animals instead of just reactive measures.
“The forest is our livelihood, but we are living in fear every day,” said a resident of Mayalgaon. “We need safety, not just compensation after tragedy.”
Authorities have urged people to avoid going to forests alone, especially during early morning and evening hours, and to immediately inform the forest range office if any wild animal is sighted.
May the injured girl recover soon.
