Bear attacks elderly woman in field

An elderly woman was injured after being attacked by a bear while working in an agricultural field near Thirukurungudi, at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
The incident occurred when Thangapushpam (65), wife of Raj and a resident of Vattakkulam village near Thirukurungudi, went to her field yesterday afternoon.
Bears are frequently reported to stray into villages in this region, and incidents of attacks on people working in fields and gardens have been occurring periodically.
According to sources, a bear suddenly emerged and attacked Thangapushpam, biting her and causing injuries.
Hearing her screams, workers from nearby fields rushed to the spot and rescued her.
She was first taken to the Valliyur Government Hospital for initial treatment and was later admitted to a private hospital in Valliyur for further care.
Following the incident, Thirukurungudi Forest Range Officer Yogeswaran visited the injured woman at the hospital and offered consolation.
He said steps would be taken to install a cage to capture the bear and assured that appropriate compensation would be provided to the victim as per forest department norms.
The incident has caused concern among residents of the area, who have urged the forest department to take preventive measures to avoid further human-wildlife conflicts.