A woman in her 30s lost her life after being attacked by a tiger in the early hours of Sunday in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district. The incident took place in Parrapur Baigatola village under the Khapa range of Kanha National Park, where the victim, identified as Sugni Bai Dhurve, was sleeping inside a hut around 1:30 am. According to villagers, the tiger entered the settlement, grabbed her by the head and dragged her for nearly 300 metres before fleeing into the nearby forest. Despite being rushed to a hospital in Baihar with severe head injuries, she succumbed during treatment.

Forest and police officials confirmed the incident and have launched an inquiry. Authorities said the victim’s family will receive financial assistance as per government norms, while a case of accidental death has been registered. The Forest Department also announced immediate measures, including installing a tiger cage in the area, increasing night patrols and monitoring wildlife movement to prevent further attacks in nearby villages.

Officials noted that villages around the Kanha National Park buffer zone have witnessed repeated incidents of tigers and leopards entering human settlements in recent months. Residents have been advised to keep doors securely closed at night, avoid entering forest areas unnecessarily and ensure children and elderly family members are not left unattended. Local representatives also claimed the victim’s family lived in a hut without a proper door and had not benefited from welfare schemes meant for vulnerable tribal communities, raising concerns about safety and housing conditions in the area.