Lucknow: A tiger scare in the Rehmankheda area of Lucknow has prompted authorities to shut down schools, colleges, and coaching institutes to ensure public safety.
The pursuit of the tiger has been ongoing since December 14, 2024, after it killed seven animals, including two blue bulls, one cattle, and two baits. Now the tiger has 14 animal kills to its credit. On Thursday, the big cat was spotted near Behta Nala in Rehmankheda but managed to escape from the forest department’s team.
District Magistrate Suryapal Gangwar, acting on a request from the forest department, issued an order to close all educational institutions in the tiger-affected villages, numbering 60, until the animal is captured. Online classes have been mandated to minimize the disruption to students’ education. Villages under this order include Rehmankheda, Sahilamau, Ulrapur, Meethanagar, and several others. Meanwhile, another specialist veterinarian from Bahraich’s Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary has joined the mission, further bolstering efforts to capture the elusive tiger.
Delay In Capturing The Tiger Draws Criticism
The delay in capturing the tiger has drawn criticism from locals and wildlife experts. Responding to the outcry, the forest department has replaced the operation’s nodal officer.
“The new leadership is expected to bring fresh ideas and expedite the rescue operation,” said DFO Dr. Sitashu Pandey.
The forest department has intensified rescue operations, with the command now under Barabanki DFO Akashdeep Badhawan. In a bid to outsmart the tiger, the forest department has revised its strategy yet again. A 15-foot-deep and 10-foot-long pit has been dug in the forest using a JCB machine to trap the animal. Additionally, a team of five expert veterinarians, led by Dr. Deepak from Katarniaghat, has been deployed. The team is using female elephants, Diana and Sulochana, to comb the dense forest areas.
“We are trying every possible tactic to capture the tiger safely,” said Renu Singh, Additional Chief Forest Conservator, Lucknow Division. “The tiger is highly cautious, often returning to the forest before the team can act.”
The tiger’s presence has left over 60 villages in a state of fear and anxiety. Residents venture out only in groups, carrying torches for safety during nighttime emergencies. With schools closed and crops in the fields left unattended, the livelihoods of many villagers have been severely impacted.
“Our children are unable to attend school, and our crops are suffering. We are living in constant fear,” said Raghavendra, a resident of Rehmankheda.
Kusum, a homemaker from Sahilamau, expressed her frustration: “Every night, we hear the tiger’s roar, but no one has been able to capture it. This has gone on for too long.”
Residents are calling for additional resources and government intervention to bring the situation under control. “We urge the authorities to ensure the tiger is captured without further loss of life,” said Pradeep Singh, a local farmer.
