Panic at KU Girls’ Hostels after black bear strays into campus
KINS Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 28 (KINS): Panic gripped the girls’ hostels at the University of Kashmir on Friday late evening after a black bear strayed into the campus, forcing students to remain indoors and triggering an emergency response from the authorities.
Eyewitnesses told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) the bear was first sighted near the Sadrabal side of the campus, walking along the footpath as shocked commuters watched from a distance. A group of stray dogs reportedly began chasing the animal, after which the bear climbed an electric pole, leapt over a boundary wall and entered the girls’ hostel area, causing alarm among students.
“As soon as the bear was seen near the hostel blocks, students were asked to stay inside their rooms and avoid moving out,” said a student resident of one of the hostels.
University officials and security staff rushed to the spot and alerted the Wildlife Department. A rescue operation was launched to locate and capture the animal, which had moved further inside the campus beyond the main hostel blocks by the time wildlife teams arrived.
Officials said efforts were underway to safely tranquilise and relocate the bear to its natural habitat and appealed to students and local residents in the adjoining areas to remain cautious and avoid venturing into dark or isolated patches of the campus during late hours. (KINS)
