Forest Watcher Dies in Line of Duty at Nagarahole

Rapid Summary

• A forest watcher named Raju, aged 48, collapsed and died of a heart attack on Thursday in the D.B. Kuppe range of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.
• The incident occurred while he was patrolling near Suttanahalli camp with other watchers and guards.
• The group encountered an elephant, which did not charge or attack, but Raju reportedly succumbed to shock and suffered a cardiac arrest.
• Deputy Conservator of Forest Seema confirmed the details, stating that the post-mortem had been conducted and the body handed over to Raju’s family.
• Under government norms, ₹25 lakh compensation will be provided to his bereaved family.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This tragic incident highlights the physical and emotional toll faced by forest personnel during thier work in India’s wildlife sanctuaries. The reported cause-a cardiac arrest induced by shock upon encountering an elephant-underscores the risks inherent even without direct animal attacks in such vulnerable settings.While ₹25 lakh compensation adheres to government guidelines as a form of support for affected families during tragedies like this one, ensuring better healthcare resources at remote wildlife reserves may reduce mortality among staff working under stressful conditions. Systematic interventions addressing both preventive health care and occupational stress management could further safeguard employees serving India’s ecological conservation efforts.

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