Patna, Oct 24 (IANS) A tiger killed a woman in a national park in Bihar's West Champaran district, a forest official said Thursday.

Devanti Devi, in her mid-40s, resident of Banhawa Parasa village, was mauled and killed by the tiger in Govardhana forest in the Valmiki National Park, said park director Santosh Tiwari.

"She was attacked when collecting fuel wood in deep forest inside the park," Tiwari said.

He said that as per government policy, the park would provide Rs.2 lakh as ex gratia assistance to her family soon.

The national park, which is Bihar's only Tiger Project, is over 250 km from here.

The incident created panic among local villagers and para-military personnel who move about freely in the forest despite warnings by forest officials.

According to an official of the park, the number of its tigers has more than doubled in the last three years.