NTCA awaits facts of 'death by mauling' case in Odisha

Three days after a woman was allegedly mauled to death by a tigress in Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is yet to get an official version of the incident, senior officials said.

Kailashi Garnayak, a native of Hatibari village located in the reserve, was allegedly mauled by Sundari who was translocated from Madhya Pradesh. NTCA member secretary Anup Kumar Nayak said they are awaiting a factual report from state authorities and will take action accordingly.

After Garnayak's death in Tikarpara range, angry locals set a forest office ablaze and also beat up officials. They refused to hand over her body, and had reportedly demanded that the tigress be sent back to Bandhavgarh.

NTCA said that it is yet to be ascertained whether Sundari was responsible for Garnayak's death. "We are waiting for a report from the state government," said Nayak, "Once we receive the report, we will be able to take a call on the issue. We have not received anything from them (Odisha authorities)...whatever we know, it is from the press. We need a factual report." Satkosia Reserve's field director did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment.