A 52-year-old woman died after a bear attacked her in a forest near Khaludhandha village in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district on Wednesday afternoon. Manju Devi had gone out to graze goats and cut grass when the animal suddenly attacked.
The bear severely injured her face and hands. She reportedly tried to defend herself with a sickle, but the animal also bit her hand. Nearby residents heard her cries and created a commotion, forcing the bear to retreat into the forest.
Injuries and treatment
Family members and local residents took Manju Devi towards Ramnagar after the attack. The journey from the mountainous area to the hospital took about 3 to 4 hours, according to the available account.
Doctors at Ramnagar Joint Hospital began emergency treatment after she arrived. Dr Sarik said her facial injuries were extremely serious. The woman’s condition remained critical, with substantial blood loss reported in the account of her treatment.
Doctors were preparing to refer her to Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani for advanced care. However, she died during the initial treatment before the referral could take place.
Attack near the village
Manju Devi lived in Khaludhandha village, located in the Nainidanda block of Pauri Garhwal district. She was a mother of 2 children and had entered the nearby forest for routine livestock and grass-cutting work.
The bear emerged suddenly from bushes, according to the reported sequence of events. Villagers responded after hearing the woman’s cries and continued making noise until the animal left her and moved away.
The incident has renewed concern among residents about emergency access in remote hill areas. Local people have expressed anger over the time required to transport a critically injured wildlife-attack victim to hospital and over the reported shortage of rapid ambulance transport and critical-care facilities nearby.
a statement from forest officials or details of any action taken to track the bear is not yet available. It also does not report any further injuries or attacks connected with the incident.
Why the hospital journey mattered
The case highlights the practical difficulty of moving severely injured patients from remote mountain locations. In this incident, several hours passed before Manju Devi reached Ramnagar Joint Hospital, where doctors provided primary treatment and planned a referral to Haldwani.
That referral could not be completed because she died while the initial treatment was under way. The account identifies the long journey and limited local emergency capacity as issues drawing concern from residents.
Conclusion
Manju Devi died after a bear attack near Khaludhandha while she was grazing goats and cutting grass. Villagers drove the animal away, but she succumbed to her injuries during primary treatment at Ramnagar Joint Hospital before transfer to Haldwani.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where did the bear attack take place?
The attack occurred in a forest near Khaludhandha village in Pauri Garhwal’s Nainidanda block.
Q. Who was the woman who died?
The woman was 52-year-old Manju Devi, a mother of 2 children who lived in Khaludhandha village.
Q. What was Manju Devi doing in the forest?
She had gone to graze goats and cut grass near the village.
Q. What injuries did she suffer?
The bear severely injured her face and hands. She also suffered a serious hand injury when she tried to use a sickle in self-defence.
Q. Where was she taken for treatment?
Her family and local residents took her to Ramnagar Joint Hospital.
Q. How long did it take to reach the hospital?
The journey from the mountainous area to Ramnagar took about 3 to 4 hours.
Q. Was she referred to another hospital?
Doctors were preparing to refer her to Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani, but she died during primary treatment.
