Leopard Attack in Lakhimpur Kheri: Man Injured, Rescue Efforts Ensue

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Jun 25 (PTI): A leopard attack near a village in the Dhaurahra range of the North Kheri Forest Division, Uttar Pradesh, left a man injured. On Wednesday, officials reported that several villagers, along with a forest guard and a police officer, were injured when they tried to rescue the man.

The incident occurred when Mihilal, a 35-year-old resident of Baburi village in Dhaurahra Kotwali area, was at a brick kiln on Tuesday. A four-year-old leopard, hiding nearby, suddenly attacked and attempted to drag him into a banana orchard.

However, Mihilal bravely fought back. Officials noted that he grappled with the leopard and held it by the neck.

Video footage of the event has gone viral, showing Mihilal holding the leopard as villagers rushed to his aid, throwing bricks at the animal to drive it away.

In the chaos, the leopard lashed out, injuring several villagers as well as a forest guard and a police officer. Shortly afterwards, with the assistance of forest department officials and others, the leopard was subdued and tranquilized.

Saureesh Sahay, deputy field director of the Dudhwa buffer zone, informed PTI that the injured leopard was taken to the Dhaurahra range headquarters. He noted that the animal’s condition will be assessed once it regains consciousness.

All the individuals injured in the attack have been admitted to the district hospital and are reported to be out of danger.

In a related incident earlier on the same day, forest officials rescued another leopard that was found sick and trembling in Jatpurwa village of the Shardanagar area. Alerted by passersby, authorities captured the ailing leopard and transported it for medical evaluation.

Veterinarians from Dudhwa are currently examining both leopards. Officials stated that further action would be based on the assessments' results.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)