Three women sustained injuries after being attacked by bears in two villages of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday, officials said
The attack took place in the Shamer and Gadar hamlets in the Mandi belt of the border district.
A medical officer at the Poonch district hospital said that two of the injured women were referred from Mandi for treatment, while the third victim remained at Mandi.
The doctor said one of the injured, Nazia Kausar, is in a serious condition with a severe eye injury and will be referred to Government Medical College Hospital, Rajouri, for specialised treatment.
The second injured woman is stable and undergoing treatment at the district hospital, the officer said.
The incident triggered concern among residents, who said that bear attacks have become a recurring problem in the area.
Mohammad Rafiq, a resident of Tatri village in Bahadur, appealed to the district administration to provide assistance to the victims and take effective measures to prevent such incidents.
"Similar incidents have occurred in the past as well, but the issue remains unaddressed. We request the deputy commissioner and the administration to help the affected families and take steps to curb these recurring attacks," Rafiq said.
Authorities assured that medical assistance is being provided and Kausar's condition is being closely monitored.