In a tragic escalation of human-wildlife conflict, four women lost their lives in two separate tiger attacks in Chandrapur district over the weekend. Three of the women were killed by a single tiger on Saturday, while the fourth victim was fatally mauled by a different tiger on Sunday.
According to officials, the first incident occurred near Mendha-Mal village in the Sindewahi Forest Range, approximately 200 km from Nagpur. A group of women had ventured into the forest to collect tendu leaves—used in the production of beedis—when a tiger launched a sudden attack. Three women—Kanta Budhaji Chaudhary (65), her daughter-in-law Shubhangi Manoj Chaudhary (28), and Rekha Shalik Shende (50)—were killed on the spot. A fourth woman, Vandana Gajbhiye, sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, said Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Chief Conservator of Forests.
Wildlife experts say this may be the first documented case in the region where a single tiger has claimed three human lives and injured another in a single attack.
When the women failed to return home by afternoon, villagers alerted the forest department. A joint search operation was launched, and the mutilated bodies were discovered in Dongargaon, around 8 km from Sindewahi town. Forest officials took possession of the remains and sent them for post-mortem examination after completing formalities.
Camera traps have been deployed in the area to help identify the tiger involved. “Once confirmed, we will formally seek permission to tranquillize and capture the animal,” said a senior forest officer.
In a separate incident on Sunday morning, 65-year-old Vimala Shinde from Nagla village in Mul tehsil, near Tadoba Tiger Reserve, was attacked and killed by another tiger while collecting tendu leaves.
Both attacks have sparked panic and protests in the local communities. Villagers have demanded immediate action to capture the tigers. Local MLA and former minister Vijay Wadettiwar criticized the forest department, stating, “The authorities have ignored repeated requests to relocate dangerous tigers. These deaths were avoidable, and someone must be held accountable.”
Chandrapur district, which includes the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, is known for high human-wildlife conflict due to its dense tiger population. Over 130 tigers and numerous leopards are estimated to roam the reserve. In the past three years, more than 225 people have been killed in wild animal attacks across Maharashtra, with Chandrapur recording the highest number of fatalities caused by tigers.
With these latest deaths, the wildlife-related fatality count in Chandrapur for 2025 has risen to 16. Last year, the district reported 29 such deaths—27 of them caused by tigers. In 2023, the figure was 25. Forest officials have since stepped up patrols and issued public advisories warning residents against venturing into forest areas.
