'Attacked my neck with its jaws': Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich locals narrate wolf attack stories; 'Operation Bhediya' intensifies with 4 wolves captured, 2 more sought

NEW DELHI: Officials in Uttar Pradesh's

Bahraich district

have intensified efforts under '

Operation Bhediya

' to

capture wolves

responsible for killing eight people over the past two months. Four wolves have been caught, and searches for two more are underway.
The wolf attacks have resulted in the deaths of seven children and one woman, with additional injuries reported.

A

local man

and a child have recently suffered injuries, believed to be from wolf attacks. The

injured child

's relative recounted the incident, stating:
"I am the child's uncle. He was attacked by the wolf at around 1:30 am. When we screamed, the wolf left him and went away. We chased it but it went into sugarcane fields. It was a wolf. There is its footprint in the house."

Another man described his ordeal, saying:
"At 4 in the morning an animal attacked me. He attacked my neck with its jaws. It was bigger than a jackal. I was not able to identify the animal. I got nervous at that moment. So I am not sure which animal it was. If I would not have caught his mouth, he would have killed me."
Dr. Ashish Verma

, Incharge at

Mahasi Civil Health Centre

, commented on the situation:
"There are minor injuries on both people. One came at 2 am and another person came at 5 in the morning. They are not in any critical situation. The patient has claimed that it is a wolf attack. However, it is a matter of investigation for the

Forest Department

."
Officials confirmed on Sunday that they have identified the presence of two wolves through drone surveillance and aim to capture them shortly. Abhishek Singh, CO Forest, Bahraich Division, said:
"Our whole team is going to be here in the guidance of DFO. We detected the presence of wolves through drones. Both wolves have been traced in this area. We will capture it by today or tomorrow."
On Saturday, the forest department positioned traps in Sisayya Chudaamani village, from where the fourth wolf was captured on Thursday. Rupendra Gaur, Circle Officer of Mahasi, explained their strategy:
"Drones, nets and cages are being used to catch the wolves. We are continuously trying to catch the wolves…We are ensuring that no untoward incident takes place anywhere. Eight people have lost their lives and 15 others are injured."
To safeguard residents, the forest department has been using firecrackers at night. Sureshwar Singh, an MLA, provided further context on the ongoing situation:
"Wolf scare began in Bahraich district and its Mahasi Assembly constituency from 17th July 2024. Since then 8 deaths have been reported and 20 people have been injured. Work is underway to catch those wolves…Electricity is being ensured in identified areas where there is no power supply…We are also setting up doors at houses where incidents have occurred…I am carrying a rifle to boost the morale of the people."
Last Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department employed an infrared (IR) drone which confirmed the presence of two wolves in Bahraich.
This incident has caused significant concern in the region as officials continue their efforts to capture the remaining wolves and prevent further attacks. The Forest Department is coordinating closely with local authorities to ensure the safety of the residents while investigating the situation to confirm the exact nature of the attacks. As the community remains on alert, steps are being taken to restore calm and protect vulnerable areas through enhanced security measures and community engagement.