Leopard attacks seven in two Chhattisgarh villages, search underway to track animal

Seven persons were injured after a leopard attacked residents of two villages located along the border of Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari and Kondagaon districts, forest officials said on Thursday.

While three villagers were injured in Karipani village in Dhamtari district late Wednesday night, four others sustained injuries in adjoining Bastar Budra village in Kondagaon district early on Thursday, a forest official said, adding that the leopard involved in attacks at both these places was the same.

The leopard was first sighted in Bahigaon near Karipani, which falls in the Sitanadi area of the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. The forest department had initiated efforts to capture the animal on Wednesday but could not catch it, he said.

The leopard entered Karipani village late Wednesday night and attacked Urmila Bai Markam (60) when she stepped out of her house after hearing some noise, he said.

Her brother, Sundar Lal Netam (60), rushed to rescue her but was also attacked. A neighbour, Manai Bai, who reached the spot, was also injured, the official said.

The three injured villagers were taken to the government hospital in Nagri in an ambulance. After preliminary treatment, Markam and Netam were referred to the district hospital in Dhamtari for further treatment due to their serious condition, while Manai Bai is undergoing treatment at the Nagri hospital, he said.

Subsequently, the leopard entered Bastar Budra village, located in a forested area adjoining the Tiger Reserve, and attacked four villagers, injuring them. The injured persons were then admitted to a hospital, the official said.

Senior forest officials have reached the affected areas, and efforts are underway to capture the leopard, with drones being used to monitor its movements, he added.