News Flash Daily
19 February 
Tribal Woman Lili Soren Fights Off Bear in Hatisalabeda Forest; Husband Suffers Serious Injuries, Forest Officials Confirm
Baripada (Odisha): A 41-year-old tribal woman fought off a wild bear with an axe to save her husband from a brutal attack in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, forest officials said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the Hatisalabeda forest near Milu village under the Karanjia forest range in Mayurbhanj. The couple, identified as Malde Soren (48) and Lili Soren (41), had ventured into the dense forest area to collect leaves when they encountered a group of wild bears.
According to Range Officer Prasant Kumar Swain, the situation quickly turned life-threatening.
“When the couple entered the dense forest, they encountered a group of six wild bears. One among them suddenly attacked Malde, mauling him viciously and inflicting serious injuries, including deep scalp wounds,” Swain said.
Bear Attack Turns Life-Threatening
Forest officials said the bear pounced on Malde Soren without warning, knocking him to the ground and clawing at him repeatedly. The attack left him bleeding profusely, particularly from severe head injuries.
In a desperate attempt to save her husband, Lili Soren reportedly used an axe she was carrying and confronted the attacking animal. Displaying extraordinary presence of mind, she struck at the bear, forcing it to retreat into the forest along with the rest of the group.
Victim Undergoing Treatment
Malde Soren was later rescued and shifted for medical treatment. Officials confirmed that he sustained serious injuries but survived due to his wife’s timely intervention.
Authorities have advised villagers living near forest fringes to remain cautious while entering dense areas, especially as human-wildlife encounters have reportedly increased in parts of the Mayurbhanj district.
Forest department personnel are monitoring the area to prevent further incidents and to ensure the safety of residents who depend on forest produce for their livelihood.
