ITANAGAR, Oct 15: The Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department has barred motorcyclists from entering a stretch of the Roing-Anini road in Lower Dibang Valley district after a tiger was spotted in the area, an official said on Thursday.
Commuters and locals have been asked to avoid unnecessary movement and follow safety guidelines, he said.
According to an advisory issued by Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary Divisional Forest Officer Mito Rumi on Wednesday, the tiger was sighted between the 19-km and 23-km points of the road.
The restriction has been imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent any human-wildlife conflict.
The latest advisory comes in the wake of the recent death of an Arunachal Pradesh Police head constable in a suspected tiger attack near Mayudia while he was travelling on his motorcycle from Anini to Roing after duty. His body was recovered later by a joint team of police and forest officials.
The department has strictly prohibited two-wheeler movement along the affected stretch, particularly during early morning, evening and night hours, the official said.
People have also been advised against loitering, picnicking, stopping unnecessarily or visiting the area for sightseeing.
Car owners have been advised to keep their vehicle windows closed and not get out while passing through the stretch.
The advisory also cautioned people against entering nearby forests for trekking or collecting minor forest produce.
Roing MLA Mutchu Mithi, in a social media post, confirmed the tiger's presence near the 19-km point on the Roing-Anini route, in the vicinity of Tiwari Gaon and adjoining areas.
He said the report had been verified and forest officials had also sighted the animal.
Forest teams have been deployed in the area, and the legislator appealed to residents to remain alert and avoid unnecessary movement near forested areas.
The department has urged people to follow the prescribed guidelines for dealing with human-wildlife conflict and cooperate with forest personnel and district authorities to avert any untoward incident. People have been asked to immediately report fresh tiger sightings to the forest department. (PTI)