A wave of panic has gripped the residents of Chamarajanagar taluk after a pride of five tigers was spotted near Nanjadevapura village. In a rare and alarming sight, a mother tiger and four cubs have strayed from the forest into human settlements, prompting the district administration to take emergency measures.
Section 144 Imposed in Three Villages
To ensure public safety and facilitate a smooth capture operation, Chamarajanagar Tehsildar Girija has issued an order imposing Section 144 (prohibitory orders) in three villages: Nanjadevapura, Veeranapura, and Udigala. The restrictions are in effect from today until tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM. Residents have been strictly advised to stay indoors and avoid forming groups to prevent any untoward incidents.
Shortage of Personnel vs. High-Tech Tracking
Forest officials have successfully tracked the location of the five tigers using drone cameras, which revealed pugmarks near a local stone quarry. However, the operation faces a significant hurdle: there are currently only two veterinarians available in the entire Chamarajanagar district. Forest staff have expressed concerns that capturing five tigers simultaneously with limited medical experts is a daunting task.
Political Intervention and Reinforcements
Local MLA Puttarangashetty is personally monitoring the situation on the ground. After discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the MLA confirmed that the state government has promised to deploy additional skilled veterinarians and more elephants to assist in the operation.
"We acknowledge the shortage of expert veterinarians, but the CM has assured us of all necessary support to ensure the safety of the villagers," Puttarangashetty stated while inspecting the quarry site with forest officials.
'Gajapade' Enters the Scene
The rescue operation gained momentum with the arrival of two veteran elephants, Ishwara and Lakshmana, from the Dubare Elephant Camp. The villagers of Nanjadevapura welcomed the elephants with a traditional puja before the combing operation commenced.
Of the two, the elephant Lakshmana is a seasoned veteran of the wild; at 45 years old, he has participated in over 50 successful combing operations. He is accompanied by mahouts Sanju and Suresh, while Ishwara is being handled by Vishwanath and Manjunath.
The forest department remains on high alert as they attempt to drive the tigers back into the forest or safely tranquilize them before the Section 144 deadline expires.
