A large-scale search operation involving the Forest Department, police, and specialized rescue teams is currently underway in Nagaon, a popular coastal village near Alibaug in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, after a male sub-adult leopard strayed into a residential area and injured five people.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning, has sparked intense panic among the residents and led to the closure of local schools and establishments as a precautionary measure.
Five Including Rescuers Injured in Daytime Attack
The leopard was first spotted around 11 AM on Tuesday near a resident’s home in the Khalchi Aali area of Nagaon. Eyewitnesses described the big cat as "very large, waist-high, and extremely aggressive," moving fearlessly through the residential lanes.
- Initial Attacks: The leopard initially attacked two residents, who reportedly sustained minor injuries while attempting to ward off the animal.
- Attack on Rescue Team: Following the alarm, officials from the local police and the Forest Department rushed to the scene. During the subsequent operation to corner and tranquilize the feline, the leopard attacked three members of the rescue team, including an Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) and a villager assisting the effort. All five injured persons were provided first aid and are undergoing treatment at the Alibag District Hospital.
Search Operation and Safety Directives
The commotion caused the leopard to flee into nearby forest patches, from which it has been moving back into residential pockets, complicating the rescue effort. The Forest Department has called in a specialized team from Pune, armed with tranquilizer guns, and is utilizing drone surveillance to trace the animal.
To ensure public safety, the local administration has issued strict directives:
- School Closures: Schools in Nagaon have been directed to remain shut for the day.
- Stay Indoors: Residents have been strongly urged to stay indoors and avoid entering forested stretches until the leopard is safely captured.
- Avoid Crowding: The police have appealed to villagers to avoid gathering at the rescue site, as large crowds can cause the leopard to panic and become more aggressive.
Forest officials suspect the leopard may have strayed from the Fansad Wildlife Sanctuary in Raigad, indicating a growing human-leopard conflict in the region, which has seen increased leopard sightings in recent months across Maharashtra.
