Junona, Chandrapur, Maharashtra | August 29, 2026
A 25-year-old youth was killed in a tiger attack while he was grazing cattle in a forested area near Junona village in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased has been identified as Vijay Madhukar Meshram, a resident of Junona. The incident has triggered fear among villagers and once again highlighted the growing challenge of human-tiger conflict in Chandrapur.
Attacked while grazing cattle
According to the report, Meshram had gone into the forest to graze cattle.
He was in Compartment No. 154 under the Moharli beat of the Moharli forest range, close to a forested patch, when a tiger reportedly attacked him.
The attack proved fatal, and Meshram died at the spot.
Villagers discover the body
Local villagers later reached the area and found Meshram’s body. They immediately informed the Forest Department about the incident.
Forest officials subsequently reached the site and carried out the required panchnama before the body was sent for post-mortem examination.
Tiger believed to be active in the area
Forest officials suspect that the attack may have been carried out by a tiger that has been frequently sighted in the vicinity.
To keep track of the animal’s movements and help determine whether the same tiger was responsible for the attack, the Forest Department has begun monitoring the area.
According to local reports, camera traps have also been installed to monitor tiger movement.
Fear among villagers
The incident has caused considerable concern in Junona and surrounding areas, particularly among people who regularly enter forest areas for grazing cattle and other livelihood-related activities.
The Forest Department has appealed to villagers to exercise extreme caution while entering forest areas and to remain alert to the presence of large carnivores.
Chandrapur continues to face conflict
Chandrapur is one of Maharashtra’s most important tiger landscapes, but the large tiger population also means that encounters between people and wildlife remain a persistent challenge.
Agricultural fields, villages and forest habitats often lie close together, bringing people and tigers into increasingly frequent contact.
The latest death is another tragic reminder of the risks faced by people who depend on forest and adjoining areas for their daily livelihoods.
Forest officials will now focus on identifying the tiger involved and monitoring its movements to prevent any further attacks.
Source credit: This story is based on reporting by United News of India (UNI), “Youth killed in tiger attack in Chandrapur,” published on August 29, 2026.
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