The three-day-long tension in South 24 Parganas finally came to an end on Sunday as the Royal Bengal Tiger that had strayed into a human settlement managed to find its way back to the wild. In a dramatic turn of events, the tiger evaded all traps set by the Forest Department, tore through the nylon fencing, and swam across the Herobhanga River to return to the deep forest.

The tiger had entered the Jharkhali village on Friday, sparking widespread panic among locals who remained indoors for two nights. A 33-member special Tiger Rescue Team from Kultali was deployed, and the entire area was cordoned off with heavy-duty nets. Despite two cages being strategically placed, the majestic beast outsmarted the officials. On Sunday, foresters discovered a breach in the netting and spotted fresh pugmarks leading into the river. Following the tracks, they confirmed that the tiger had retreated to Forest No. 4. With the “king of the jungle” back in its territory, normalcy is expected to return to the tourism hub of Jharkhali from Monday.