In a tragic incident in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, a 35-year-old man, Anil Bhalawi, was killed by a tiger on Friday morning. The incident occurred near the village of Kachhar, within the jurisdiction of the Katangi police station. This marks the second fatal tiger attack in the area in less than two weeks, raising concerns among local communities.
Anil Bhalawi had ventured into the Sonewani forest early in the morning to collect mahua flowers and tendu leaves, a common practice for supplemental income among tribal communities. These leaves are used for rolling bidis. The Sonewani forest, despite its rich biodiversity and tiger population, lacks formal wildlife sanctuary status or protective infrastructure. While he was collecting leaves with other villagers, a tiger emerged from the bushes and attacked him.
According to Vijay Dabur, Additional Superintendent of Police, the tiger partially consumed the rear portion of the victim's body, indicating that he was dragged into the jungle before being killed. The forest department confirmed that Anil sustained injuries to his lower body. The tiger retreated into the dense vegetation after the attack and has not yet been located.
This recent incident follows a similar tragedy on May 3, 2025, when a 50-year-old tribal farmer, Prakash Pane, was killed by a tiger while working on his farm in the Tirodi police station area. Following the earlier incident, the tiger responsible was tranquilized and relocated to Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal.
The attacks have ignited protests from outraged villagers, who accuse forest authorities of neglecting repeated warnings about tiger sightings over the past two months. Panic has spread among local residents, who are demanding stronger safety measures to prevent future attacks. The forest department has forbidden villagers from going alone into the forest.
Forest officials estimate that 8 to 10 tigers are roaming in the area. A forest official told IANS that tigers frequently stray into human settlements due to a dwindling prey base, often attacking cattle or humans. These tigers roam the Pench-Kanha corridor, occasionally entering buffer zones. Officials estimate that around 30-35 tigers inhabit the region, with the one responsible for Anil's death likely being among them.
In the wake of the tragedy, the forest department has pledged to provide compensation to the family of the deceased in accordance with regulations. So far in 2025, at least six tiger-human conflict cases have been reported in Madhya Pradesh, with four in Bandhavgarh and two in Balaghat.
The repeated incidents have sparked renewed concerns about wildlife management and public safety in the region. The unprotected status of the Sonewani reserve forest has come under scrutiny, highlighting the need for improved conservation efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
