POONCH, June 18, 2026 : Three women were injured after being attacked by bears in two villages of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday, officials said. One of the victims sustained serious injuries and is being referred for specialised treatment.
The attacks occurred in the Shamer and Gadar hamlets in the Mandi area of the border district, triggering concern among local residents over the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict in the region.
According to officials, all three women suffered injuries during separate bear attacks reported from the two villages.
A medical officer at the District Hospital Poonch said that two of the injured women were referred from Mandi for treatment, while the third victim remained under medical care in Mandi.
Among the injured, Nazia Kausar sustained severe injuries, including a serious eye injury, and is reported to be in critical condition.
“Nazia Kausar has suffered a severe eye injury and is being referred to Government Medical College Hospital, Rajouri, for specialised treatment,” the medical officer said.
The second injured woman is stated to be stable and is undergoing treatment at the District Hospital Poonch, while details regarding the third victim’s condition were not immediately available.
Residents Raise Concern Over Recurring Attacks
The incident has once again highlighted the growing concern among residents living in forest-adjacent areas of Poonch, where encounters with wild animals, particularly bears, have become increasingly common.
Local residents said similar attacks have occurred in the past, posing a constant threat to people engaged in daily activities, especially in rural and mountainous areas.
Mohammad Rafiq, a resident of Tatri village in Bahadur, urged the district administration to provide assistance to the affected families and implement preventive measures to reduce such incidents.
“Similar incidents have occurred in the past as well, but the issue remains unaddressed. We request the Deputy Commissioner and the administration to help the affected families and take effective steps to curb these recurring attacks,” Rafiq said.
Authorities Monitoring Situation
Officials said medical assistance is being provided to all the injured women and that Nazia Kausar’s condition is being closely monitored.
The latest incident has renewed calls for enhanced wildlife management measures and greater coordination between forest authorities and local communities to minimise human-wildlife conflict in vulnerable areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
