High alert has been sounded in villages of Koraput district neighbouring Andhra Pradesh after a Royal Bengal Tiger reportedly went on a killing spree. The carnivore was spotted in the forests of Andhra Pradesh close to Odisha border.
Villagers of Pottangi and Narayanapatna blocks in Koraput district are in a state of panic after the spread of the news. The tiger has been on the prowl and has killed several cattle.
According to sources, the Royal Bengal Tiger has strayed into human habitation in Vijayanagaram district and have killed cows, buffaloes, goats and other domestic animals. Now, it is just 50-km away from Odisha border.
Sharing the news, Abdaal M Akhtar, Collector and District Magistrate, Koraput tweeted, “There are reports of a vagrant tiger’s movements in the forests of Andhra Pradesh some distance from Kotia and Kaspavalasa border. Necessary awareness exercise is being carried out by Forest departments of both the States in the area. There is no cause for concern.”
After the spread of the news, Koraput district administration swung into action and alerted the locals not to venture out of their homes alone and not leave their cattle into the forest.
The administration is also in constant touch with its counterpart in Andhra Pradesh and keeping a tab on the movement of the carnivore. Forest officials also conducted village level meetings to make people aware about the tiger.
When contacted, Semiliguda Ranger Tripati Panda said that efforts were on to keep a tab on the movements of the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Tiger was now on a Hill of Andhra Pradesh, around 30-40km away from Nandapur block of Koraput district, he added.