A lady was tending to buffaloes in Gulaba, which is high, just about where the tree line ends on the lesser Himalayan slopes. She was chatting with her sister who was holding the hand of their twelve year old son, negotiating the rocky path homeward after evening milking. The pastoral scene was rent by the roar of a Himalayan bear which came out of nowhere and caught the lady in its claws, raking them across her head and back. Pandemonium broke loose. The bear was not about to yield despite shouts and hoots. Shepherds grazing their flock nearby rushed to her aid. It was only after one of them took a huge rock and hit the bear on its head that it gave up its grasp and disappeared, as quickly as it had come.
She was brought bleeding to our emergency room. Her scalp was shredded, like a tiller had been taken to its surface. Thankfully she was conscious and oriented. Many stitches later she was admitted to our ICU. She battled sepsis for two days but turned the corner and was discharged well.
Bear attacks are not uncommon here. The bears come down from the higher slopes for the ripening autumn apples.
