Outrage is brewing in Chhattisgarh after forest department officials callously photographed a bear attack survivor and his crying wife for a mere Rs 1000 payout. The victim, Ram Yadav of Kochi Muda village in Gariaband’s Sadak Parsuli range, was picking mahua flowers when the predator struck ferociously, mangling his face, scalp, and limbs.
His kin alerted authorities, who transported him to the local hospital. There, compassion took a backseat to optics. Officials pressed two Rs 500 notes into the hands of his hysterical wife and posed gleefully for pictures, ignoring Ram’s mounting distress. No ambulance arrived despite repeated pleas for escalation to Raipur’s better facilities; instead, a prolonged photo session ensued.
Viral footage reveals the department’s misplaced focus amid the tragedy. For families dependent on forest produce like mahua—a staple for the poor—this is a stark reminder of vulnerability. The episode has drawn widespread condemnation, exposing how administrative red tape and image-building exacerbate suffering in wildlife-prone areas.
As public anger mounts, experts call for revamped emergency responses, including dedicated medical evacuations and fair compensation. The forest department remains silent, but this scandal demands immediate accountability.
