NEW DELHI: The Madhya Pradesh government announced on Sunday that it will increase the compensation for families of those killed in wild animal attacks from ₹8 lakh to ₹25 lakh. This decision follows a tragic incident where an elephant killed two people near the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated, “We have decided to raise the compensation for lives lost due to wild animal attacks from ₹8 lakh to ₹25 lakh. This includes compensation for the families of the two victims of the elephant attacks in Umaria.” The increase in compensation was implemented shortly after Forest Minister Pradeep Ahirwar distributed the earlier ₹8 lakh compensation to the affected families.
The captured elephant had fatally attacked Ramratan Yadav (50) in Devra village, about 10 kilometers from the reserve, and later killed Bhairav Kol (35) in Brahe village, within the buffer zone of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Additionally, the elephant injured Malu Sahu (32) in Banka.
In response to these incidents, the Union Ministry of Environment has initiated an independent inquiry into the deaths of ten elephants in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Preventive measures are being implemented by state officials to avoid future occurrences. Among the ten deceased elephants, one was male and nine were female, with six being juvenile or sub-adult and four adults. Preliminary information suggests the cause of death may be poisoning, but a comprehensive investigation, including postmortem reports and toxicological analyses, will determine the final cause.
