Bear with cub spotted in Srinagar, injures one

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 11: A wild bear injured a school guard in Lal Mandi area of Srinagar today. Sources said Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Habba Kadal working as a guard at a private school was attacked by the bear who was earlier spotted at nearby Jawahar Nagar area with her cub roaming on the road.

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The injured was shifted to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital for treatment where his condition is stated to be stable, they said.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have issued an advisory for the people residing at Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Lal Mandi and its adjoining localities to remain indoors till the bear is caught. “One wild bear & a small cub are roaming in Rajbagh locality of Srinagar. Wildlife officials & Police are on the job. Citizens of this & nearby areas are advised to remain indoors till it is caught. If anyone notices/sees the bear, pls inform at SHO Rajbagh’s number 7006572050”, a police tweet said.
The bear with her cub was spotted at Jawahar Nagar area of Srinagar city centre by the residents roaming on the streets during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
They have informed the Wildlife Department who dispatched a team of experts with equipment to locate and catch the bear, Wildlife warden Rashid Naqash said.
The team was searching the densely populated Lal Mandi and its adjoining areas to tranquilize the bear before it could attack some other people.
The bear with the cub was also noticed in the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in the locality by the officials. However, it was not known from where the bear alongwith her cub had reached the area. The nearby Shankaracharya hill forest is more than 2 km away from Jawahar Nagar and Lal Mandi area.