'Tiger' sighting spreads panic in Odisha village, residents spend sleepless nights

Fear and anxiety have gripped residents of an Odisha village as they grow increasingly wary of a mysterious animal, believed to be a tiger, roaming the vicinity. Villagers in the Digapahandi area of Ganjam district are expressing unease following sightings of what might be a tiger. 

Images captured by CCTV have spurred calls for heightened monitoring measures. The footage from closed-circuit television (CCTV) at a resident's home reportedly caught the animal twice, intensifying concerns among the villagers.

The residents' apprehension has been heightened by memories of a previous Bengal Tiger scare in the area. Villagers are vocal about their fears, recalling past experiences that have left them unsettled.

Also Read: Royal Bengal tiger scare grips Odisha villagers after wild cat kills cow

The locals have brought the matter to the attention of the forest department, requesting the deployment of trap cameras to ascertain the animal's identity. However, they allege that their appeals have so far fallen on deaf ears, leaving them without reassurance or resolution.

"We have asked for assistance from the forest department but have yet to receive any concrete response," alleged one resident.

Worth mentioning, pugmarks of a Royal Bengal Tiger were found in Khambhari village under Digapahandi block earlier on October 31, 2024. Digapahandi DFO had confirmed that the paw marks belonged to a Royal Bengal Tiger. He also said the Forest department has deputed three teams and installed trap cameras in various locations to track the tiger’s movements.

Likewise, the people of Narasinghagada village in the district had also detected the pugmarks of a Royal Bengal Tiger in the nearby forest areas on October 28. They suspected that the tiger might have migrated from Maharashtra last year.