Human-Wildlife Conflict in Uttarakhand: Online Classes Start in Almora Villages After Schools Shut Over Safety Fears

Fear and uncertainty continue to grip several villages in Uttarakhand’s Almora district after repeated incidents of human-wildlife conflict forced authorities to shut schools in the Salt area.

In an effort to ensure that children do not suffer academically during the ongoing crisis, local school management committees and teachers have now started online classes for students.

The decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident on May 3, when 50-year-old Mahipal Singh lost his life after being attacked by a wild animal in the region.

The shocking incident created panic among residents and raised serious concerns about the safety of schoolchildren travelling through forested routes.

Following the attack, education authorities ordered the indefinite closure of schools in the affected villages as a precautionary measure to prevent any further human-animal encounters.

The move, while necessary for safety, disrupted the studies of dozens of children living in the area.

Speaking about the initiative to continue education despite the difficult circumstances, Heera Devi, president of the School Management Committee (SMC) of Government Junior High School in Tadam village, said that arrangements had been made for students to attend classes online from home.

“We do not want children’s education to suffer because of the school closure. Since the threat from wildlife remains, online classes are the safest option for now,” she said.

Before the schools were shut, forest guards had reportedly been escorting children to and from educational institutions to ensure their safety.

However, after the fatal attack earlier this month, authorities decided that continuing physical classes would pose too great a risk.

Officials said that three schools under the Tadam gram panchayat have been closed indefinitely.

These include two government primary schools located in Borda and Ghijira villages, along with a government junior high school in Ghijira.

The fear among residents has become so intense that even students studying at the Government Inter College in Bhaunkhal have stopped attending classes due to concerns over possible wildlife attacks during travel.

During a meeting held on Monday, the School Management Committee, along with teachers and local representatives, unanimously agreed to shift studies to online mode temporarily so that students can continue their academic activities without interruption.

At the same time, the forest department has intensified its operations to trace and capture the wild animal responsible for the attacks.

According to officials, camera traps and cages have been installed across vulnerable locations in the area to monitor animal movement.

Authorities have also deployed three veterinary teams equipped to tranquilise the animal once it is located.

In addition, forest personnel are conducting regular patrols in nearby forest regions and village surroundings to ensure public safety and keep residents informed about wildlife movement.

The situation has highlighted the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in hilly regions of Uttarakhand, where expanding settlements and shrinking forest habitats are increasingly bringing people and wild animals into dangerous proximity.

For families in the Salt area, however, the immediate priority remains the safety of their children and the hope that normal life, including regular schooling, can resume soon.