Amaravati, February 5: The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department has ramped up efforts to capture a tiger that has been roaming around Rajahmundry city in the East Godavari district for the past five days, causing widespread fear among residents.
An alert was issued after the tiger was confirmed to have preyed on livestock near Bhupalpatanam village, approximately 20 kilometers from Rajahmundry. Forest officials, police, and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel are all involved in the operation to ensure public safety and capture the tiger.
Collector of East Godavari, Keerthi Chekuri, announced that schools in the vicinity have been closed. Authorities have observed tiger activity in the G. Yerraampalem area, where three calves were reported killed. They believe the tiger’s movements are confined to this region.
On Wednesday night, the tiger attacked and killed a cow in Punyakshatram. Officials have advised residents to stay indoors and avoid areas known to be frequented by the tiger. Children, students, and the elderly have been urged not to venture outside unless absolutely necessary. They are also cautioned against going alone into fields, gardens, or forested areas.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant and not provoke or harm the tiger. Citizens are encouraged to report any sightings or suspicious signs of the tiger to the relevant forest or police authorities immediately.
Twelve teams of forest officials are actively working to capture the tiger. The state’s Chief Conservator of Forests, P.V. Chalapathi Rao, stated that permission has been granted to tranquilize the tiger and relocate it to the forest. Special teams have been summoned from Pune and Delhi for this operation.
Forest officials have set traps and prepared tranquilizers and cages to capture the tiger. It is believed that the tiger has traveled from Maharashtra through Telangana and Chhattisgarh to reach this area.
Officials estimate that the tiger has covered approximately 600 kilometers in the past 15 days. It is thought to have been roaming within a 10 to 20-kilometer radius of Rajahmundry for the last five days, raising concerns among the public as officials continue to monitor the situation closely.
Late Tuesday night, the tiger was spotted near the Diwan Cheruvu Center and close to the National Highway. It was also seen near a corporate school and the SVBC Convention Center, causing two vehicles to halt on the road. Rajanagaram MLA B. Balram Krishna confirmed that government agencies have approved the safe capture of the tiger using tranquilizers.