Bahraich (UP): An infant was reportedly taken by a wolf in Kaiserganj, Bahraich on Sunday, prompting an extensive search operation involving Forest officials, villagers and drone cameras, authorities said.

The child and the wolf remain untraced, officials confirmed.

Villagers said the four-month-old baby, Subhash, son of Santosh and Kiran from Mallahanpurwa, was asleep next to his mother when the wolf entered the house around 1.30 am.

"The predator silently walked in, lifted the baby from the mother's arms, clamped him in its jaws and fled," a local resident said. Villagers chased the animal, but it disappeared with the child.

Divisional Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav confirmed the incident and noted that the area has been experiencing repeated wolf attacks. Over the last nine days, Mallahanpurwa has recorded three such incidents.

On November 28, a five-year-old boy was killed by a wolf, and on December 5, a five-year-old girl was attacked by a wolf.

"We received information that the child was taken by a wild animal around 1.30 am. Drone-assisted combing operations were launched immediately by our teams already stationed in the village," Yadav said.

"Teams are searching riverbanks, sugarcane fields and all locations where sightings have been reported. Trained shooters are part of the operation. The animal will either be rescued or, if necessary, shot," he added.

Bahraich district has been facing wolf attacks since September 9, resulting in the deaths of eight children and an elderly couple. According to the Forest Department, 32 people have sustained injuries in these attacks.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas on September 27, directing that the wolf be captured safely or, if unsuccessful, shot. Rescue specialists and shooters from other districts and states have been deployed, and since September 28, four wolves have been killed in operations.

PTI