Jamshedpur: Leopard sighted in residential area of Gamharia, panic grips residents

Mail News Service

Gamharia, March 20: The presence of a leopard, which has been roaming in the industrial area for the past four days, has instilled fear and panic among the locals. Despite two days of no sightings following Sunday, the leopard was spotted late on Tuesday night in the densely populated Namopada area of Bada Gamharia, further alarming residents. Sitaram Nayak, a resident of Namopada, reported seeing the leopard near his house close to Gamharia Station Road around 2 to 3 am on Tuesday night. He recounted hearing continuous barking from dogs late at night, initially assuming a thief’s presence. However, upon opening the door, Nayak was startled to find the leopard standing near a guava tree in his courtyard. Quickly retreating indoors, he alerted others about the dangerous visitor.

News of the leopard’s presence spread rapidly on Wednesday morning, leading to widespread fear among residents. Many chose to remain indoors, particularly parents who refrained from allowing their children outside, opting for heightened vigilance. Authorities were promptly informed of the incident, prompting the Forest Department to dispatch a team to investigate the situation. Upon arrival, the team examined the area and discovered paw marks believed to belong to the leopard. However, due to overnight rain, some tracks had been washed away, complicating the investigation process.

Forest department officials confirmed that some of the marks found matched those of a leopard, although further analysis by experts is warranted. The erasure of tracks due to rainfall underscores the challenges faced in tracking the elusive animal. As authorities continue their efforts to assess the situation, residents remain on edge, hoping for a swift resolution to the looming threat posed by the leopard’s presence in their neighborhood