Tension gripped Nagenanbad Muslim Para at Kultali in South 24-Parganas as villagers spotted pugmarks on Saturday morning.

Such frequent incidents of tigers straying into villages have been a concern for people living in the Sunderbans, the biggest habitat of the Royal Bengal Tigers. Forest officials said, locals informed them about the pugmarks at 10 am and they reached the spot immediately. The area has been cordoned off with nets and officers are waiting at the spot with tranqulisers and shot guns.

While studying the pugmarks it was noticed that the big cat may have swam across Gora canal and reached Ajmalmari blocks I, II and III. “We are yet to ascertain the reason behind the straying of the big cat. The animal would either be trapped and let off in the jungle or just pushed into the core forest areas of Kultali forest,” said Subhendu Banerjee, District Forest Officer, South 24-Parganas.

State forest officials said chances are that the tiger is not injured but has strayed from its habitat before high tide and was finding it difficult to return.