Tiger movement sparks panic in villages of Asifabad

Panic gripped villages in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district after a tiger was spotted near Kosini village in Kagaznagar mandal. Forest officials confirmed pugmarks, deployed watchers and installed camera traps, urging villagers to remain cautious while monitoring the animal’s movement.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: A tiger was spotted moving around Kosini village in Kagaznagar mandal and division, triggering panic among residents on Tuesday.

Residents said the animal was roaming near an irrigation tank and agricultural fields on the outskirts of the village, close to forest areas. Expressing concern over the safety of farmers, shepherds and farm labourers working in the fields, they urged forest officials to track the tiger’s movement and take preventive measures to avert any casualties.

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Forest officials said pugmarks of the tiger were found on the village periphery. They advised residents of Kosini as well as neighbouring Vempalli village to remain cautious. Watchers were deployed to closely monitor the animal and CCTV camera traps were installed to capture photographs, while villagers were requested not to harm the tiger.

According to officials, three tigers have been residing in the division for a long time. The animals are suspected to have migrated from the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district in search of suitable territory in October 2025. They have made the forests their home due to favourable living conditions, including a rich prey base and availability of drinking water.

Officials said that, in a positive sign, both transient and resident tigers did not harm humans in 2025 following sustained efforts to prevent man animal conflict. They added that compensation was provided quickly to farmers in cases of cattle loss, besides creating awareness among villagers about the presence of tigers.

In 2024, Morle Lakshmi, 21, a native of Gannaram village in Kagaznagar, was mauled to death by a transient tiger while she, along with six other farm labourers, was picking cotton in a field near Easgaon village in Kagaznagar division on November 29. The following day, a migrant tiger was suspected to have attacked Rauthu Suresh at Dubbagudem village in Sirpur (T) mandal.