Bargarh/Sambalpur: Two persons suffered grievous injuries after being mauled by bears in separate incidents Sunday.
An elderly man was critically injured after a bear attacked him at Khajaria under Bhatili police limits in Bargarh district. Sitaram Rout (55) had gone to nearby forest to bring teeth brushing twigs when he came face to face with the animal that pounced on him. He was admitted to the Bargarh district headquarters hospital where his condition remained critical.
In another incident, Ranjit Nayak (25) was injured after he was attacked by a bear at Kadobahal under Rairakhol block in Sambalpur district. Fellow villagers rescued and admitted him to the Rairakhol community health centre. According to sources, the animal which had strayed into the human settlement attacked Ranjit when he was going to his farmland. His family members demanded financial assistance from the forest department.
PNN