Madhya Pradesh: Tiger mauls 10-year-old girl in buffering zone of Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary

A 10-year-old girl was mauled to death by a tiger in Madhya Pradesh’s Khanabad village near Ratapani wildlife sanctuary, forest officials said on Monday.

According to forest officials the deceased minor along with her two younger siblings had taken their cattle to a forested area adjoining their village.

Manoj Bhadoriya, sub-divisional officer of the forest department said, “The forested area falls in buffer zone of Ratapani sanctuary.”

He further added, “As per information, the tiger pounced on the girl killing her on the spot.”

The deceased younger siblings made an attempt to save her by hurling stones at the tiger but in vain, added the forest officer.

The girl left the incident site after her siblings started screaming to the loudest of their voice.

The duo siblings carried the body of the girl to their village and informed the villagers about the tiger-attack.

Bhadoriya further told the media that this is the first reported incident in the area.

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“We have launched a manhunt for the tiger. We have told the villagers to avoid taking cattle into deep forest areas,” added Bhadoriya.

“We have registered a case of unnatural death. The girl’s body was handed over to the family members after postmortem,” said Additional Superintendent of Police Avdhesh Pratap Singh.