Gudalur shuts down for 48 hours amid tiger hunt

A 48-hour shutdown has begun in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, as residents and political groups demand the capture or killing of a tiger suspected of killing two people in the O’Valley-Lauriston area of the Nilgiris district.

The bandh, which began Thursday morning, has resulted in the closure of nearly 10,000 shops, hotels, and bakeries, while also disrupting school attendance and tourist traffic. Tensions rose as some protesters stopped vehicles, including tourists from Kerala, leading to interventions by local police.

Forest authorities have deployed over 100 personnel to locate the animal. The search operation utilizes 130 automatic cameras, three thermal-imaging drones, and 12 cages. However, heavy rain, mist, and poor visibility have hindered surveillance efforts, and cameras have yet to record the tiger's movement. Authorities have restricted public movement in high-risk zones and advised residents to remain vigilant.