Panic spread among villagers near Imaliyadih village in Imamganj police station area of Gaya district after a tiger was reportedly sighted in the bushes along the Morhar-Sorhar river on Tuesday. The news quickly spread to nearby villages, drawing many residents to the riverbank.

Villagers, including Dr. Akhilesh Kumar, Santosh Kumar, and Brajesh Kumar, claimed they saw the tiger drinking water near the bushes by the river. According to them, the tiger remained near the river for some time before moving back into the bushes. They immediately informed the forest department.

Upon receiving the information, a team from the forest department promptly arrived at the scene and began investigating the area. The team examined paw prints found in the sand along the riverbank and inspected the surrounding bushes and riverside areas. However, as of the report, no concrete evidence confirming the tiger's presence has been found.

Forest Ranger Kumar stated that the team is continuously monitoring the area and the situation will become clear only after the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, the reported tiger sighting has created fear in Imaliyadih and surrounding villages. Residents are avoiding going near the river and are exercising extreme caution in bushy areas. The forest department team is maintaining constant vigilance, and officials have urged villagers not to pay attention to rumors and to report any suspicious activity or sighting of wild animals immediately to the forest department.