Hyderabad: Nimmala Balayya, a 47-year-old Chenchu tribal, was killed by a sloth bear on Wednesday evening at the Amrabad tiger reserve in Achampet forest division of Mahbubnagar district.

Forest department sources said Balayya was travelling through the interior area of Amrabad forest along with others from his village, Eerelapenta, after collecting forest produce.

On the way, they encountered a female sloth bear with cubs which attacked Balayya's brother-in-law. When Balayya tried to help him, the animal turned upon him.

While Balayya’s brother-in-law received only minor injuries, the bear bit Balayya on his thigh that ruptured his sciatic vein. He died on the spot from the bleeding.
The bear left the place along with her cubs following the incident.

A forest official from Achampet said a police case had been booked and the post mortem report was ready. He added that Forest officials were trying to get a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for Balayya's family.

In June, a 50-year-old man had been killed in Gumpanpalle, close to the Achampet forest range, by a sloth bear that had got entangled in a snare in an agricultural field.