The Daily Star’s FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox
A man's face was ripped off and he lost an eyeball after being viciously mauled by a "massive" bear.
Muhammad Mumtaz, believed to be in is in his early 30s, was attacked by a sloth bear in Uri, in the north Kashmir Baramulla district of India’s Jammu and Kashmir state.
Half his face was pulled off by the beast before it ran off as the victim started throwing rocks at it.
The bear struck as Muhammad tending to his goats and sheep in the Shaladajan village of Boniyar, Baramulla.
During the shocking incident, a group he was with began hurling stones at the bear so it would release him.
Muhammad then had to be carried about 12km through the forest to safety.
Images from the scene show Muhammad on the grass covered in blood.
The left side of his face shows open flesh and no eyeball.
Incredibly, Muhammad appears to be conscious and is speaking, though his voice is muffled.
"The bear pounced upon me all of a sudden and started scratching my head – it felt like a heavy boulder had crushed me," he said.
24,000-year-old 'worm' brought back to life – and is still able to eat and reproduce
Later, a face covering is used to conceal his wounds.
Muhammad was rushed to Boniyar’s primary health centre before being transferred to Government Medical College Baramulla for advanced treatment.
He is believed to be in critical but stable condition and is being closely monitored by doctors.
Range officer in Baramulla Altaf Joul, of the wildlife department, said the team will visit the area where the attack took place and assess the situation.
Locals said the incident took place in the afternoon when Muhammad was with goats in the meadow.
"We heard from him that he was attacked by a massive bear when he was with the flock of goat and sheep," said Imran Ahmad.
A senior citizen said: "We demand compensation for him as he has to live with this for the rest of his life."
Locals also suggested a leopard was spotted in the area a day before the attack.
- Animals
- Hospital
Source: Read Full Article
