BHOPAL: A 16-year-old Class 11 student narrowly escaped death after a bear attacked him in a forest near Sukhtawa in Narmadapuram district on Thursday evening. The teenager survived after his pet dog charged at the animal, forcing it to retreat.The incident took place around 5pm in the Chhindapani Bhilat Dev forest when Viklesh Kasde had gone to search for his family’s cow.According to Viklesh, the bear suddenly emerged from thick bushes and pounced on him.The animal knocked him to the ground and clawed at his abdomen and legs for nearly five minutes, inflicting deep injuries.His pet dog, which had accompanied him into the forest, repeatedly barked at the bear before attacking it. Startled by the dog, the bear fled into the forest, giving the injured boy a chance to call his father for help, say sources.As the family’s house was about 2km away, relatives and villagers rushed to the spot and shifted Viklesh to Government Hospital in Itarsi later that night. Doctors said the teenager had suffered deep claw and bite wounds on his abdomen and leg. He required around 30 stitches and is currently stable.Viklesh’s father, Ramesh Kasde, a daily-wage labourer, said he has five children and appealed to the Forest Department for financial assistance.
