Jajpur, April 7: Panic gripped Vyas Nagar residents after the news of a bear entering the town spread in the locality.

The stray bear entered the town today morning and injured four persons, including a woman. The injured have been admitted to a hospital on Jajpur Road. The bear attacked people near the Chorda School, a source said.

Police said they got a call from a Chorda resident around 6am that a bear was attacking people. "By the time we reached, it had attacked four people," said Jajpur Road police station inspector-in-charge Sishir Kumar Mishra.

"I was on my way to a house where I work as a domestic help. The bear suddenly attacked me near the Chorda School," said an injured, Kanchan.

Local residents gathered at the spot and pelted the bear with stones. To escape its attackers, the bear started running and fell into a drain near the old police station and got trapped.

"Our officials are trying to rescue the bear. Besides, Nandankanan authorities had been requested to send a team for the purpose," said Cuttack divisional forest officer Sudarshan Behera.