Four women killed in tiger attack while collecting tendu leaves in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur

Four women were killed in a tiger attack while collecting tendu leaves in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district. The incident triggered panic among villagers and renewed concerns over rising man-animal conflict, with locals demanding compensation and stronger preventive measures.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: In a major tragedy caused by a tiger attack, four women were mauled to death by a tiger while they were picking tendu leaves in the Gunjewahi-Pawanapur area in Sindewahi Taluka of Chandrapur district early on Friday morning. The shocking incident triggered massive panic among villagers.

Forest officials said the deceased women were identified as Kavita Dadaji Mahurle (45), Anita Dadaji Mahurle (46), Sangita Santosh Chaudhary (40) and Sunita Kaushik Mahurle (33), all from Gunjewahi village.

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The four women were attacked by the tiger, which was reportedly on the prowl in dense bushes. They died on the spot after being mauled by the animal. The other women managed to escape unhurt by raising an alarm and running out of the forest. About 13 women from the village had entered the forest to collect tendu leaves. The ghastly incident brought the disturbing man-animal conflict into sharp focus.

Forest officials said patrolling had been intensified in the forest to prevent human casualties. They advised villagers not to enter deep inside forests to collect leaves or for any other purpose. They told residents to move in groups and make noise while moving through forest areas. They added that CCTV camera traps would be installed to track the movement of the tiger.

According to official data, wildlife-related incidents claimed more than 420 human lives in Maharashtra between 2021 and 2026. Tigers and leopards accounted for about 110 fatalities. Significantly, the State recorded 47 casualties in Chandrapur district in 2025 alone. Of these, 42 deaths were caused by tigers, reflecting the gravity of the issue.

Meanwhile, villagers expressed anger against officials for failing to prevent man-animal conflict. They demanded compensation for the family members of the women. They staged a sit-in near the forest area seeking justice. They regretted that depending on forests for non-timber forest produce had become fraught with danger.