Bison scare in districts, four injured

Injured Nirmal Mochari in hospital on Sunday. Picture by Anirban Choudhury

TT, Alipurduar: Four persons, including a woman, suffered injuries after six gaurs (Indian bison) went on a rampage in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts on Sunday.

In Alipurduar, three bisons strayed into Baniagaon village from Rydak forest around 7am.

Two team of foresters - one from South Rydak Range of Buxa Tiger Reserve (East) division and another from Alipurduar - managed to steer one of the animals into the forest but the other two started running throughout the village.

Nirmal Mochari, 60, was attacked by a gaur while he was working at his field. The farmer suffered a chest injury and was in hospital, sources said.

Around 12noon, the foresters tranquillised the two gaurs and transported them to the forest.

In Paradubi village of Cooch Behar, three gaurs came out of the Jaldapara National Park and entered the village.

One of the animals went berserk as villagers gathered to see the gaurs and it started attacking people. Three persons, including a woman were injured in the rampage.

Rani Biswakarma was admitted to the sub-divisional hospital in Mathabhanga while the other two were released after primary treatment, sources said.

Foresters reached the spot and could tranquillise the gaur. "We, however, could not find the other two animals. It seems those have returned back to the forest. Even then, the villagers have been asked to be on alert and inform us in case they see any of the bisons," said a forest official.