Three girls farm staff injured in sloth bear assault close to Puliyangudi in T.N.; residents stage protest

Three farm staff, all girls, have been injured — one in every of them significantly — in a sloth bear assault at a farm close to the Western Ghats, west of Puliyangudi, in Tenkasi district on Thursday (August 7, 2025) morning.

When the group of ladies have been at work within the farm of Esakkiraj, of Puliyangudi, close to the foothills of the Western Ghats, at round 9 a.m. on Thursday, a sloth bear, which had entered the farm, reportedly attacked them. Whereas Ramalakshmi, 42, and Palaniammal, 43, sustained accidents, Seihu Ammal, 48, was grievously injured.

The ladies have been rescued from the wild animal solely after labourers from different elements of the farm, on listening to their screams, charged in the direction of the sloth bear with golf equipment and stones. Whereas Ms. Ramalakshmi and Ms. Palaniammal have been admitted to Puliyangudi Authorities Hospital, Ms. Seihu Ammal was referred to Tirunelveli Medical School Hospital, after being administered first help at Puliyangudi. The latter’s situation is alleged to be crucial.

Condemning the Forest division’s ‘inaction’ to test the invasion of untamed animals into farms and their assault on staff, farmers and residents blocked vehicular site visitors alongside the busy Tenkasi-Madurai freeway for practically an hour on Thursday.

“Farmers domesticate coconut, banana, lemon, and greens on this area. The invasion of untamed animals, particularly wild boars, sloth bear, and Indian Gaur, into the farms near the Western Ghats has develop into extra frequent. Wild boar assaults have, actually, develop into a routine affair. Apart from struggling crop loss on account of crop-raiding wild animals, the farmers and farm staff additionally endure critical accidents. The federal government ought to set up photo voltaic electrical fence to test the invasion of untamed animals and to avert man-animal conflicts,” mentioned Thiruneelam, a farmer from Puliyangudi.

After the Police and Income division officers pacified the protesters, they agreed to disperse.