Bear Sightings Trigger Fear in Karnaprayag Village as Children Flee Near-Encounter on Way to School

Residents say the incident reflects a growing threat in the region, where increasing wildlife movement near human settlements has made daily routines—especially for children—hazardous. According to villagers, the situation has escalated to a point where sending young students to school now feels like a direct risk. Only two days earlier, children from nearby Nauli reportedly encountered a similar scare, deepening concern among families already anxious about wildlife presence in the area.

Local community members are urging authorities to intervene, warning that repeated close encounters could soon result in injury or worse. While no formal statement has yet been issued by wildlife or administrative officials, villagers insist that immediate action is needed to ensure safe passage for students and to prevent further escalation of human–wildlife conflict.

As fear continues to ripple through the hamlets of Karnaprayag block, parents, teachers and residents say they are hoping for swift measures to restore a sense of security. The recent incidents, they warn, serve as a stark reminder of the fragile boundary between rural habitation and forested terrain—and the growing urgency of addressing that divide.