Pulwama, Dec 3, KNT: Panic gripped Auligund area of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday morning, after locals spotted a black bear inside a cave near a graveyard, triggering fear and anger over what they alleged was a delayed response from authorities.
Villagers said the bear was first noticed earlier in the day, hiding inside a cave located close to the graveyard, an area frequently accessed by locals. As the news spread, scores of people rushed to the spot and cordoned off the cave to prevent the animal from moving out toward residential areas.
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However, locals alleged that when they contacted the Wildlife Department for immediate intervention, they were told to wait till tomorrow as the team was already engaged in chasing and capturing another black bear in Mandora village of the same town.
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“They told us they are busy in Mandora and will come tomorrow. How can we wait till tomorrow? By then the bear may disappear, and then it will become a bigger danger,” a local told Kashmir News Trust.
Villagers expressed concern that any delay in action could put lives at risk, particularly during evening and night hours when movement in the area increases. They alleged that despite repeated calls, no team had reached the spot till late evening.
“The bear is right here. If it escapes into nearby fields or houses, who will be responsible? We are guarding the cave ourselves,” another villager said.
The locals urged the department to dispatch a team without further delay. [KNT]
