Balangir: Panic gripped people after they spotted a leopard at Mahima Chowk near Gulmi forests, 50 km away from here.
According to reports, the leopard was seen sitting on a concrete structure carrying water pipes. The structure is near the water project at Dumerbahal from which water is supplied to the Badmal-based ordnance factory.
While going towards Bolangir from Titilagarh, people saw the leopard sitting on the cement structure on Nuakhai day. After a few minutes the leopard vanished, locals said.
As per sources, there are around eight leopards in Titlagarh forest range.
However, there is no incident of any attack by the leopard so far. However, Titlagarh range officer J Nanda rubbished the report of the leopard sighting.
“We don’t have any reports of leopard sighting in our area,” he said even as there were confirmed sources of the sighting.
Similarly, a few days back, a leopard was sighted in a forest near Korada village under Chhendipada forest range of Angul district.
Sources said, the leopard was trapped in a net spread by poachers to hunt wild animals Friday night. Unable to break open, the animal stayed stuck in the trap throughout the night. Some villagers on their way to collect leaves spotted the animal and informed forest officials.
After getting information from locals, Chhendipada forest range officer Durga Charan Sahu, forester Bishnu Charan Pani, ACF Basudev Nayak, Jarpada range officer Hrudanand Naik, forester Loknath Pradhan along with other forest officials reached the forest and tried to rescue the animal.
However, the leopard finally broke open the trap and escaped into the forest. Even local MLA Susant Kumar Behera, veterinary officer Pradip Kumar Sahu and other reached the spot to have a glance of the animal.
Meanwhile, the leopard has spread panic among locals of nearby Korada, Durgapur, Tangiri Sahi and Putagadia area. The residents have stopped going to the forest to collect woods and leaves.
On the other hand, the forest officials have warned the people from going to the forest and assured to drive away the animal.
PNN
