Leopard attacks in Chhattisgarh injured eight people, including a six-month pregnant woman, in two villages along the Dhamtari-Kondagaon border within a few hours, prompting forest teams to intensify searches and use drones to track the animal.
The first attack took place at about 10 pm on Wednesday in Karipani village in Dhamtari district’s Sitanadi forest area. According to villagers, a leopard entered the settlement and went after a bull. Urmila Bai Markam, 60, came out of her house after hearing the commotion and was attacked.
Her visiting brother, Sundar Lal Netam, 60, was injured while trying to rescue her. A neighbour, Manai Bai, was also attacked when she reached the spot. The three were taken to the government hospital in Nagri. Urmila and Sundar Lal were later referred to Dhamtari district hospital, while Manai Bai continued treatment in Nagri.
Around 5 am on Thursday, the animal was reported in Bastar Budra village in Kondagaon district. Five members of a family were sitting in their courtyard around a fire and shelling maize when they were attacked. Those injured included Ramshila Mandavi, 34, who is six months pregnant, Devalal Watti, 66, Duaruram Mandavi, 44, and Lata Mandavi, 40. All were taken to hospital, while one seriously injured person was later referred to Kanker.
Forest officials said the leopard had first been sighted around the Bahigaon-Karipani belt on Wednesday, before the attacks were reported. A leopard was also seen in a maize field at Bahigaon at about 3 pm and was subsequently reported crossing a road. A video of that sighting has circulated on social media.
Officials said the proximity of the villages and preliminary tracking indicated that the same leopard may have moved from the Sitanadi side towards Bastar Budra. They added that the movement sequence was still being assessed. The forest department had already placed a baited cage to capture the animal.
Teams from the Keshkal forest division and the Udanti-Sitanadi landscape have intensified ground combing in the area. Drones are being used to monitor the leopard’s movement while teams continue efforts to locate and capture it.
