Heartbreaking scenes unfolded in Gariaband, Chhattisgarh, after a savage bear attack on mahua collector Ram Yadav. The Kochi Muda resident ventured into the forest for his daily livelihood when the beast pounced, savagely tearing into his face, head, and arms before vanishing into the thick foliage.
Relatives wasted no time notifying the forest department. A team rushed to the spot and escorted the gravely injured man to the district hospital. But rather than focusing on his critical condition, the officials staged an insensitive spectacle. They thrust Rs 1000 into the hands of his sobbing wife and proceeded to snap photos with her, all while Ram groaned in pain on the hospital bed.
Ambulance services were nowhere in sight, forcing the family to beg for a transfer to Raipur. The department, however, seemed more interested in proving their ‘prompt response’ through images than providing real aid. This callous photo session lasted over 30 minutes, amplifying the family’s trauma.
Mahua picking sustains many poor households in the region, making wildlife encounters a perilous routine. Critics slam this as a blatant misuse of authority, where bureaucratic showmanship trumps human lives. The episode has ignited public fury, demanding stricter protocols for such emergencies and accountability from the forest department.