Tiger on the prowl causes scare in Mathura
By IANSTuesday, October 5, 2010
MATHURA - Forest officials from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are camping at village Beri in Mathura district to trap a tiger that mauled five children. The tiger is believed to have strayed from the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan.
The attack by the tiger has led to panic and scare among people, forcing authorities to close schools. The engineering colleges on the Agra-Mathura Road, along the Keitham reserve forest, told their students to stay indoors.
R.P. Bharti, chief wildlife officer of the zone, told IANS: “We are confident it won’t be long before the animal is trapped.”
An official from the Rajasthan Forest and Wildlife Department told IANS: “We found pug marks early today near Beri village, 25 km from the national highway. Due to the tall standing crops, we are taking all precautions. We should very soon be able to catch the tiger.”
Meanwhile, police reinforcements reached the affected villages to help farmers in the dozens of villages along the Agra-Mathura district borders. The injured children have been admitted to hospital where one child was reported to be seriously injured.
Farmers told police they saw the animal near the toll post near Farah on the national highway at around 9 p.m. Monday.
