Baliguda: A 53-year-old man managed to defend himself from getting mauled by two bears — a mother and her cub — while he was on his way to take bath in a pond near the village Saturday. The injured person has been identified as Perit Digal.
He suffered huge gashes on his head, face and limbs when the mother bear and her cub attacked him. The incident was reported from Budrumaha village under K Nuagaon of Baliguda sub-division in Kandhamal district.
According to sources, Digal, as usual went to work in his tamarind farm Saturday morning. Later, during noon, he returned and went to a pond near the village to take bath before going home for lunch.
Meanwhile, he came across the bears that were at the pond to drink water. The animals pounced on him and bit his face and torso.
Showing exemplary courage, Digal had a brief fight with the two bears and managed to escape from their clutches with serious injuries. He then ran into the village and fell unconscious after which locals, armed with lathis, reached the pond and chased away the animals.
Digal was then admitted to Baliguda sub-divisional hospital where his condition is said to be normal after treatment. Locals sympathised with Digal’s family and demanded free treatment for him as he belonged to a working class family. PNN
