4 killed, 45 injured in attacks by wild animals in northern Indian state

At least four persons have been killed and 45 others injured in attacks by wild animals in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh since April this year, a senior minister has reportedly said.

"Some four persons were killed, 45 injured and one rendered permanently disabled in separate incidents of attacks by wild animals from April 11 to July 31 in Himachal Pradesh," the state's Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri was quoted as saying in the state Assembly Wednesday.

He added: "A total of 97 incidents of attack on domestic animals by wild animals were reported in which 203 animals were killed."

The minister has also said that the state government has paid compensation to the families of those affected by attacks by wild animals.