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The village of Mahsi in Bahraich district, India, is under siege from a pack of wolves, leading to a tense night vigil for its residents. The recent surge in wolf attacks, claiming the lives of 10 people, mostly children, has instilled fear throughout the community. The desperation of the villagers is palpable, with residents like Rajvant, a 68-year-old resident of Sikandarpur, resorting to sleeping with six sticks armed with iron darts to protect themselves from the predators. This desperate measure reflects the stark reality of the situation, as the villagers struggle to navigate a landscape where the fear of attack lurks in the shadows.
The authorities, recognizing the gravity of the situation, have launched 'Operation Bhediya', a comprehensive effort to track down and capture the wolves. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has deployed Dr. Shaheer Khan, a wolf behaviour expert, to assist the forest department in this challenging task. Dr. Khan's expertise in wolf behaviour and experience in capturing them in Maharashtra will prove invaluable to the operation, offering a strategic edge in understanding and apprehending the wolves. The forest department has set up a command center, with teams actively searching for the wolves, focusing on areas like Pachkaudiya village where wolf sightings have been reported.
The district administration has implemented a multi-pronged approach to mitigate the crisis. A task force consisting of gram panchayat secretaries, rozgar sewak, sanitary workers, and Panchayat assistants, totaling 132 teams, has been deployed to patrol the area from 9 PM to 5 AM. Their duties include ensuring villagers, especially children, sleep inside their homes and preventing the villagers from venturing out at night. The district magistrate has also allocated funds for installing doors and windows in the affected villages, with 160 doors already fixed, to prevent the wolves from entering homes. Furthermore, ₹20 lakh has been allocated to improve power supply in the villages, with solar lights being installed and high-mast lights expected to be operational within a week. These measures aim to address the vulnerabilities that have contributed to the attacks.
The relentless efforts of the authorities, including the deployment of experts, the creation of task forces, and the implementation of infrastructure improvements, highlight the seriousness of the situation and the commitment to protecting the villagers. However, the fear and anxiety remain, with residents recounting harrowing tales of wolf attacks, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and sustained response. The success of Operation Bhediya in capturing the wolves and restoring a sense of security to the villagers remains a crucial priority, as the residents of Mahsi grapple with the trauma of the recent attacks and the fear of the unknown.
Source: Operation Bhediya: Night vigil on in Mahsi; dist admn claims to close in on wolves