Bear attack near Selep Tanki

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: A bear attack has been reported from the GREF Camp here below Selep Tank, the reservoir for Gangtok’s water supply.
A person working with the BRO was attacked by a Himalayan Black Bear this morning at around 9:30 AM at the boundary of the Reserve Forest near the BRO camp in the Swastik area. The victim fortunately escaped with his life. A bear attack had ended in a fatality in North Sikkim recently, it may be recalled.
Only sketchy information is at hand, but from what is available, it appears that the bear attacked the victim from the back and fled after taking a swipe. The victim has suffered injuries to his head and arm, it is learnt and is currently under treatment at the STNM Hospital here.
The victim, reportedly a labour supervisor with BRO/ GREF, was in the area to check on a compound fencing work underway there, it is learnt.
Soon after the incident was reported, a team from the Forest Department, led by the DFO Wildlife [East], Ravi Kumar reached the spot at around 10 AM with a cage, tranquilizers and other equipment required to catch the bear. The team, however, could not locate the animal.
The DFO informed that the team tried its best to find the animal and undertook an extensive combing operation but could not locate it. Meanwhile, the Forest Department team has alerted and sensitized people in the area about the animal through loud speakers.
“Continuous patrolling by Forest personnel is underway and the people have also been asked to immediately inform the department if they spot the animal in the area. We are fully prepared to handle the situation,” he assured.
According to the DFO, bears move around in search of food at this time of the year as they prepare to go into hibernation.
He further said that people living on the fringes of forest area should be especially alert and added that the Department had organized an awareness programme on the same subject some months ago as well.