BHOPAL: A young farmer hailing from Boria village found himself face-to-face with a tiger while he was gathering Mahua in the Bichua range in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh.
Identified as Sunil Dhotre, the villager was accompanied by his wife Sarla and others, when they were collecting sacks of Mahua on Thursday, and the unforeseen incident took place, said sources.
While Sunil was quenching his thirst from a nearby drain and collecting wood, the unexpected happened - a tiger sprang out of nowhere, ruthlessly attacking him and leaving severe injuries on his cheeks and hands, they said.
But Sunil was not one to cower down in the face of danger.
With sheer instinct, he resorted to whatever was at hand to protect himself and fight off the predator.
"He grabbed a stone and pushed it into the tiger's mouth with all his might, a daring move that saved his own life," a villager told local media. Even the forest officials, who were in awe of Sunil's bravery, couldn't help but admire his swift reaction.
The young man succeeded in fending off the tiger and promptly raised an alarm, attracting the attention of nearby bystanders who rushed to his aid.
Officials confirmed that Sunil sustained serious injuries in the incident and was immediately rushed to the district hospital for medical treatment. Currently, he is recovering from his injuries under medical supervision.
Speaking to the local media, a forest guard who was present during the incident revealed that their primary objective was to ensure that the young man received prompt medical attention.
Once his condition stabilizes, the authorities will launch an investigation to determine whether the wild animal that attacked Sunil was indeed a tiger.
