Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a bid to search for his remaining cattle, a tribal unknowingly reached near a tiger in Pench Tiger Reserve area. Seeing him standing very close to it, the big cat pounced on him. Instead of losing courage, the villager used stick to shove away the attacking tiger and began to yell for help.

Hearing his screams, another cattle grazer rushed for his help and managed to scare away the feline. The injured villager is admitted to hospital.

Pench Tiger Reserve officials said that villager Buddhiman Uikey (50), resident of Surrevani hamlet, along with another cattle grazer went inside the jungle to search for his remaining cattle. When Uikey entered into the forest area of Kokiwada beat, he unknowingly went near a resting tiger. Seeing him standing before it, the shocked tiger attacked him. To save himself, he used a stick to push back the attacking tiger.

On hearing his screams for help, his fellow cattle grazer reached the spot and managed to scare away the tiger. The tiger fled the scene, leaving Uikey bleeding. Uikey had sustained wounds on head and hands. On getting information, Pench officials rushed Uikey to the primary health centre and from there he was taken to the district hospital. He will get free treatment and Rs 500 per day till his stay at the hospital.