Pune: Leopard Attacks Spark Fear in Shirur Taluka; One Killed, Another Injured
Shirur, 27th August 2024: A wave of fear has gripped the villagers of Shirur taluka in the Pune district of Maharashtra as incidents of leopard attacks continue to rise. A 55-year-old woman lost her life in Jambut village, while a farmer sustained injuries in a separate attack in the Dhage Wasti area of Kanhur Mesai village. In response, the forest department has taken measures by setting up cages to capture the roaming leopards.
The first incident occurred in Jambut village, where Muktabai Bhau Khade, aged 55, was killed in a leopard attack. Muktabai went missing on Sunday evening, prompting her family and villagers to launch a search. Despite their efforts, she was not found, leading the family to report her disappearance to the forest department. After an extensive search, Muktabai’s body was discovered in a nearby sugarcane field around 4 p.m. on Monday. The discovery revealed that she had fallen victim to a leopard attack, plunging the entire village of Jambut into mourning.
In a separate incident early on Monday morning, a leopard targeted 60-year-old farmer Ankush Kharde in Kanhur Mesai village. The attack occurred at around 6 a.m. while Kharde was on his usual morning walk. As he approached a well to start a drinking water motor, the leopard, which had been lying in wait, suddenly pounced. Kharde sustained injuries to his face and hands but managed to scare off the leopard by shouting. He is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Shirur.
To address the growing threat, the forest department has installed cages in both Jambut village and the Kanhur Mesai area to capture the leopards. Forest Officer Pratap Jagtap stated that a proposal has been sent to provide government assistance to the family of Muktabai Khade and to farmer Ankush Kharde, who was injured in the attack.
As the leopard attacks persist, fear and tension continue to grip the villagers, who are hoping for swift action from the authorities to prevent further tragedies.
