Fear of wolf attack continues to haunt residents of Kaisarganj’s Kandouli village in the district. In the early hours of Sunday, at around 5 am, a one-and-a-half-year-old girl was taken away from her by a wolf while she was sleeping beside her mother.
According to locals, the family of Rakesh Yadav was sleeping in the veranda of their house when the incident took place. The cries of the baby girl woke her mother. As she raised an alarm, villagers rushed to her rescue with sticks and torches. However, the animal managed to escape into the nearby forest area before anyone could stop it.
When the family and neighbours searched the surroundings, they came across traces of the child taken through nearby fields. The police and the Forest Department were informed immediately.
A search operation is underway on a large scale. With the help of drones and a dog squad, teams are scanning the forest area and nearby settlements. Forest Department officials confirmed that a group of four wolves has been active in this region for several months.
According to records, six people have lost their lives and around 30 others have been injured in previous incidents this year. Of the four wolves, two have been neutralized, one is injured, and the fourth, who is suspected to be involved in this latest incident, remains untraced.
A forest range officer said patrol teams have been deployed round the clock, and awareness campaigns are being conducted in nearby villages. “People have been requested to remain alert, keep children indoors, and report any sightings immediately,” he said.
Village head Mehilal Yadav said the community is deeply disturbed and united in the search. “As soon as we heard the cries, everyone rushed to help. We have informed all authorities, and search teams are working continuously,” he added.
Local leader Vijay Singh also reached the site to assist the local teams. More than 100 villagers are helping the forest and police officials in the ongoing search.
The administration has assured villagers that strict action will be taken to capture or control the wild animal and prevent further incidents. Forest teams have increased surveillance across nearby forest zones and are using night-vision equipment for monitoring.