Bhandara: A heartbreaking incident has come to light from Lakhandur taluka in Bhandara district, even as the entire region was immersed in Diwali celebrations. Five-year-old Moksha Burde, who had gone to the fields with his parents in Donad village, was suddenly attacked by a tiger. In front of his parents, the tiger seized the boy and dragged him for nearly 200 metres. Moksha died in the attack. The incident, which occurred on Diwali, shattered the Burde family’s celebrations and plunged the entire village into mourning.
Farmer Sachin Dayaram Burde, 45, of Donad, had gone to the fields with his wife, Sonali, on Thursday, November 5, to bundle paddy. Work was under way in the fields after the harvest of the monsoon paddy. As it was a Diwali holiday, their daughter Nakshatra, 10, and son Moksha, 5, went to the fields to meet their parents at around 3 p.m. At that moment, a tiger lurking in the field suddenly pounced on Moksha. Before anyone could react, the tiger caught him in its jaws and dragged him for about 200 metres.
Farmers Rush to Help After Father Raises Alarm
After witnessing the tiger attack his son, Sachin Burde began screaming for help. Hearing his cries, nearby farmers rushed to the spot. By then, however, the tiger had severely injured Moksha. His body was found some distance away. He had suffered serious injuries after the tiger caught him by the neck. On the day when Diwali lamps should have illuminated the family’s home, darkness of grief descended on the Burde family.
After receiving information about the incident, a team from the Lakhandur Forest Range Office and the police reached the spot. A panchnama was prepared in the presence of police patil Bharti Ramlal Nagose and sarpanch Shivdas Burde. Moksha’s body was then sent for a post-mortem examination.
Farmers Fear Tiger; Residents Seek Immediate Action
The incident has created an atmosphere of fear in Donad and nearby villages. Farmers and their family members face a threat to their lives while working in the fields, bringing the issue of wild-animal attacks to the forefront once again. Villagers are demanding that immediate action be taken to address the tiger threat, concrete measures be implemented to ensure residents’ safety, and the government provide substantial financial assistance to the Burde family.
