A tiger attacked a girl and a forest official from Betalpara village in Sunderbans on Sunday. The tiger was later caged by forest department personnel.

The injured people were identified as Krishna Pada Mondal, the forest official, and a Class V student named as Usha Sardar.

It is learnt that on Sunday morning, Usha had gone with her relative, Swapna Sardar, to cut grass in a nearby field at 7 a.m. Suddenly the big cat pounced upon Usha.

Sardar's screams for help alarmed the villagers, who compelled the tiger to leave Usha behind and flee into the bushes.

Later, the forest officials arrived at the spot to catch the big cat. The deputy forest ranger, Krishna Pada Mondal tranquillised the tiger at first. Infuriated by this, the big cat pounced on Mondal (an official working for the forest department). Finally the tiger lost its sense.

Speaking with media persons, Sanghamitra Ghosh, District Magistrate, South 24 Parganas said, “Both the girl and the forest official have been given medical treatment and are recovering now.”

By 5 pm, both Usha and beat officer Mandal were in SSKM Hospital. Mandal was wheeled into the operating theatre later in the evening. Though both were writhing in pain when they were wheeled into the hospital, doctors who checked them said there was nothing to worry about.

Ghosh also said that the 14 years old tiger would be kept under observation at Bani Camp near Ajmalmari forest.