A brother and sister have been killed and a third sibling seriously injured after a bear attacked them while they were working in a field in central India. The attack happened on Wednesday morning in Largaon Markatola village, within the Narharpur forest range of Kanker district, Chhattisgarh. The victims have been named as Chamrin Jurri, 40, and Halalkhor Jurri, 38, who both died at the scene. Their younger sister, Khorin Bai, 30, suffered severe injuries after desperately trying to save them and was rushed to hospital.
Bear attacked siblings working in field
According to forest officials, the three siblings were carrying out agricultural work in a field close to the forest when the bear suddenly attacked. Chamrin and Halalkhor sustained fatal injuries, while Khorin Bai was mauled as she attempted to intervene. Officials said the bear remained close to the victims’ bodies for some time afterwards, preventing rescuers from reaching them. Villagers who heard screams rushed to the scene and attempted to drive the animal away by shouting and throwing sticks before emergency services arrived.
Rescue operation hampered
Forest Department teams and police later mounted a rescue operation but were initially unable to approach because the bear refused to leave the area. Kanker Superintendent of Police Asharam Netam said:
“The bear was found standing its ground; it refused to move away.
“The injured woman was rushed to Komaldev Hospital, but since her condition was critical she was referred to Raipur for advanced treatment. All possible assistance will be provided to the deceased’s family.”
Khorin Bai was later transferred to a specialist hospital in Raipur, where she continues to receive treatment.
Bear tranquilised
Officials said the female bear remained highly aggressive throughout the rescue operation. After repeated attempts to scare it away failed, Forest Department staff were forced to tranquilise the animal before recovering the victims’ bodies. Authorities have since urged residents to avoid the area while wildlife officials continue monitoring the situation.
Cub’s death may have triggered aggression
Forest officials believe the bear had been roaming the village for several days after one of her cubs was recently found dead nearby. They suspect the loss of the cub may have made the animal unusually defensive and aggressive. Former village head Annapurna Thakur said residents had repeatedly warned authorities about the bear’s presence before the fatal attack. A local teacher, identified only as Ranjana, said:
“The bear was extremely agitated due to her cub’s death. The lack of a boundary wall around the school creates a constant threat.”
Growing human-wildlife conflict
The incident has once again highlighted increasing conflict between people and wildlife in parts of central India. Largaon Markatola lies close to dense forest inhabited by sloth bears, which are considered among India’s most dangerous wild animals because they can react aggressively when startled or protecting their young. Wildlife experts say expanding farming and human settlement near forested areas have led to a rise in encounters between people and bears in recent years. Authorities said the families of the two victims will receive compensation and other government assistance under state schemes covering fatal wildlife attacks.
