A 46-year-old man was killed by a tiger after allegedly entering the restricted core area of Pench Tiger Reserve in Chhindwara district to collect forest produce, prompting a police case and renewed warnings from forest officials against unauthorised access.
The man, identified as Vijay, son of Phool Singh and a resident of Gumtra village, was attacked in the Chandiyakasa beat of the Gumtra game range in the Mando Kassa area on October 17. According to the forest department, Vijay had entered the protected area with relatives after the group bypassed barriers intended to prevent unauthorised entry.
Officials said the group jumped over a wall to access the reserve’s core area. The forest department said villagers had been repeatedly warned not to enter the stretch, where around four adult tigers are believed to move through the range.
The department received information about the incident at around 3 pm. Forest personnel reached the location and confirmed Vijay’s death. Officials, including the Chaurai sub-divisional magistrate, assistant conservator of forests, tehsildar and police sub-divisional officer, visited the site along with forest and police staff.
Bichhua police registered a case of unnatural death and began legal proceedings. Vijay’s body was sent to the Community Health Centre in Bichhua for a post-mortem examination and was later handed over to his family.
The incident highlights the immediate safety risks created when people enter protected forest areas without authorisation, particularly zones frequented by tigers. The forest department said its warnings had specifically covered the dangers of entering the core area to collect forest produce and breaching barriers or other security measures.
The department appealed to villagers not to enter the reserve’s core area without permission, whether to collect forest produce or for any other purpose. It also warned that unauthorised entry into areas used by tigers could lead to human-wildlife conflict.
Further action is being taken under the applicable rules, while the police proceedings and post-mortem process form part of the official response to the death.
