By Mukesh 
A tigress which mauled four women to death was tranquillised and caged in Sindewahi taluka of Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, forest officials said on Sunday (May 24, 2026).
“The tigress was seen near Pawanpar pond in Sindewahi taluka in the Bramhapuri forest division, where she was tranquillised using a dart,” said a forest official.
On Friday, four women were attacked by the tigress in the Gunjewahi forest area while they were harvesting tendu patta (Indian Ebony leaf). According to reports, a group of seven women went to the forest for collecting leaves, the seasonal produce which is a major source of income for tribal families during summer. The forest official pointed out that the attack came to light when three women from the group went back searching four missing women.
The deceased are: Kavdabai Mohurle (45), Anitabai Mohurle (40), Sunita Mohurle (38), and Sangeeta Chaudhary (50). The Forest department had installed three live cameras and 30 trap cameras for tracking the animal’s movement.
The attack created anger among the residents who have been living in constant fear as two deaths were reported in last two months in the same region. On April 18, one Baliram was killed while collecting flowers, while on March 25, a man who was passing by was killed in the tiger attack.
It may be recalled that most of the attacks are by female tigers and their sub-adults (between 1.5 and 2.5 years), which are usually pushed outside the protected forest area. According to the Forest department data, from 2021 to 2025, 929 people have been injured and 184 died and the number keeps surging. In July 2025, the Brahmapuri division, part of Chandrapur forest circle, spanning over 4,081 sq. km, has the highest number of cubs at 67; sub-adults at 16; and females at 39. The circle is also home to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Wildlife and environmental experts believe that with the forest shrinking and increased tiger population and human activities, the human-tiger conflict in the Chandrapur circle has been intensifying. They sought immediate steps for peaceful human-wildlife coexistence.