Yet another woman estate worker today fell victim to a carnivore, suspected to be a tiger, on the prowl at Kundachappai, about 20 km from here.
The 38-year-old woman was returning home with other estate workers, when the animal pounced on her, and dragged her toward the jungle, police said.
As the workers shouted and ran behind the animal, it dropped the body and escaped into the jungle.
This is the third such incident in Nilgiris district after a woman and man were killed at Solada on Saturday night and Doddabetta, 10 km from here yesterday, respectively.
Forest department officials are clueless whether the man-eater is a tiger, panther or leopard. They had kept four cages to trap the animal but it has avoided them.
Department officials said they noticed pug marks of a tiger near the jungle last evening.
Panic-stricken villagers have gathered at the spot and District Collector P Shankar is holding talks with them.
