63-year-old man suffers grievous leg injuries in bear attack, undergoes amputation

BELAGAVI: A 63-year-old man, who had suffered serious injuries in the leg in a bear attack, had to undergo amputation up to the knee at a private hospital here. The incident had occurred at Maan village in Khanapur taluk early this week.

The victim Sakharam Gaonkar shed tears on coming to know about the amputation. The Forest officials in Belagavi have sanctioned immediate relief of Rs 10 lakh to Sakharam. The sexagenarian had fought with the bear in his fields for about an hour before he could be rescued by his wife and rushed to hospital.

Deputy Forest Officer (DFO) Maria Krishna Raju met Sakharam at the hospital and also inquired with the hospital authorities about his health condition. The DFO also promised an artificial leg along with a monthly pension of Rs 4,000 for five years for Sakharam.