628 tigers died in India in past five years: Govt data
New Delhi (PTI): A total of 628 tigers died in India during the past five years due to natural causes and other reasons, including poaching, according to government data.
Meanwhile, 349 people were killed in tiger attacks during this period, with Maharashtra alone recording 200 deaths.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), 96 tigers died in 2019, 106 in 2020, 127 in 2021, 121 in 2022, and 178 in 2023.
The number of tiger deaths in 2023 is also the highest since 2012, the data revealed.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said on Thursday that 49 people each were killed in tiger attacks in 2019 and 2020, 59 in 2021, 110 in 2022, and 82 in 2023.
Uttar Pradesh recorded 59 human deaths in tiger attacks while Madhya Pradesh reported 27.
The number of tigers in India stood at 3,682 -- around 75 per cent of the global wild tiger population -- in 2022, according to the latest government data.
India launched Project Tiger on April 1, 1973, to promote tiger conservation. Initially, it covered nine tiger reserves spanning 18,278 square kilometres.
Currently, India has 55 tiger reserves covering more than 78,735 square kilometres -- nearly 2.4 per cent of the country's geographical area -- of tiger habitat.
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Nursing college student from Kerala dies by suicide at hostel, parents allege foul play
Bengaluru (PTI): A 19-year-old student from Kerala, who was studying at a private nursing college here, allegedly died by suicide in his hostel room, police said on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Adhityan P A, a second-year student at a nursing college in Bommasandra, they said.
On April 29, he was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hostel room, police said, adding that he left behind a suicide note stating that no one was responsible for his death.
Preliminary investigation suggested that he may have been suffering from depression, and there may have been other issues which are being probed, a senior police officer said.
According to police, in his complaint, the deceased's father, Pradeep S, claimed that a college representative informed him upon his arrival in Bengaluru that his son had died under suspicious circumstances and that it was a case of suicide in the college hostel.
"However, I firmly believe that my son would not have taken such a step. He was of good character and mentally strong. Therefore, I strongly suspect foul play in his death," he claimed.
He also highlighted an incident that occurred approximately 20 days ago, when his son informed him that some of his hostel roommates were involved in drug use and were caught by hostel authorities.
"They were warned along with my son, although he was innocent and not involved in the incident. This situation may be relevant to the present case," he stated.
The complainant has urged the police to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter and take appropriate legal action.
A case of unnatural death has been registered at Hebbagudi Police Station here. Further investigation is underway, and all allegations are being examined, police said.
