Tiger terror grips Gudalur as 10,000 shops shut during 48-hour bandh

Tamil Nadu: Gudalur in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district has begun a 48-hour shutdown after two people were allegedly killed by a tiger, with around 10,000 shops closed as residents demand its immediate capture.

Travellers from Kerala heading towards Ooty and Mysore have also been advised to avoid the Gudalur route on August 27 and 28.

The shutdown began on Thursday and will continue on Friday, with traders, political parties and local organisations pressing authorities to capture the tiger suspected of killing Balakrishnan and Ravichandran in separate attacks in the O’Valley-Lauriston area.

The incidents have heightened fear among residents and intensified demands for stronger action by the Forest Department.

Tiger hunt enters sixth day

More than 100 forest personnel have been deployed for the operation. Teams are using three thermal-imaging drones, 130 automatic cameras and 12 cages to locate the animal.

Despite examining footage from all 130 cameras, officials have not yet confirmed any recent movement of the tiger. Rain, mist and poor visibility have made the search more difficult.

Additional personnel from Coimbatore and other forest divisions have joined the operation, while teams are conducting round-the-clock patrols around plantations and forest fringes.

The Forest Department has restricted public movement in areas identified as possible tiger movement zones.

Residents of Deivamalai, Mettur, Kurinji Nagar, Mullai Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Valappu have been advised to remain vigilant and avoid travelling alone.

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Kerala travellers advised to avoid Gudalur

The Malappuram district administration has advised people from Kerala to avoid travelling through Gudalur on August 27 and 28 because of the shutdown.

The route is frequently used by Kerala travellers heading to Ooty and Mysore, particularly during the holiday season. Malappuram District Collector Vinay Goyal said vehicles entering the area without knowing about the bandh could face traffic congestion and other difficulties.

Compensation demand raised

An all-party meeting involving traders' groups and social organisations also discussed the wider issue of human-wildlife conflict.

The meeting demanded that compensation for deaths caused by wild animals be increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. It also sought a government job for one member of each victim's family.

The Gudalur shutdown reflects growing pressure on the Tamil Nadu Forest Department after two fatal tiger attacks in the area. The scale of the search operation indicates the difficulty of locating the animal in terrain affected by rain, mist and dense vegetation.

The disruption also has a wider impact because Gudalur is an important route for travellers between Kerala and tourist destinations such as Ooty and Mysore. With the bandh continuing through August 28, travellers have been advised to plan accordingly and avoid the affected route where possible.