Wild Boar Attacks Forest Department Rescue Team in Badaun, Forest Ranger Critically Injured

Panic gripped Sirsauli village in Badaun district on Thursday when a wild boar attacked a Forest Department rescue team that had arrived in the area following complaints of growing menace by wild animals. The sudden attack left a forest ranger critically injured, triggering chaos at the spot.

According to officials, villagers from Sirsauli village under the Ujhani police station area had reported repeated attacks and crop destruction by wild boars. Acting on the complaint, a four-member Forest Department team launched a rescue and control operation in the village. During the operation, a wild boar suddenly charged at the team and viciously attacked Forest Ranger Shubham Pratap Singh, leaving him seriously injured.

Eyewitnesses said the boar attacked without warning and continued to injure the ranger despite attempts to ward it off. Team members and villagers present at the site used sticks to drive the animal away after a prolonged struggle. The injured ranger was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College in Badaun, where doctors provided first aid before referring him to a higher medical center in Bareilly due to his critical condition.

The incident caused panic and confusion in the village, with residents fleeing the area in fear. Shubham Pratap Singh, a resident of the Forest Department Colony in the Civil Lines area, is currently undergoing treatment.

Officials stated that the Ujhani development block has been witnessing a significant rise in wild boar population, resulting in frequent attacks and large-scale damage to crops and orchards. Farmers have been demanding urgent action from the authorities to curb the growing threat.

Reacting to the incident, Badaun Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nidhi Chauhan said that additional teams, including senior officials, will be deployed in the affected area. Villagers will be warned through public announcements to avoid venturing near the forested zones, and a Forest Department team will remain stationed in the village overnight. Further action is expected to be taken on Friday.

The incident once again highlights the increasing human-wildlife conflict in rural areas and the risks faced by frontline forest personnel during rescue operations.