Bahraich, Sep 8 (PTI) A nine-year-old boy was killed and a toddler was injured in two separate leopard attacks here, forest officials said on Tuesday.
According to the forest department, incidents of wild animals straying into populated areas have increased in different parts of the district due to flooding.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, Apoorva Dixit, said a leopard attacked Rajveer (9) at Anand Nagar village in the Katarniaghat range at around 9 pm on Monday.
“The boy had gone to fetch water from a handpump located alongside the road when the leopard attacked him,” Dixit said.
There are sugarcane fields behind the boy’s house and the leopard emerged from one of the fields before attacking him, the official
said.
Rajveer was seriously injured in the attack and was being taken to a community health centre by his family members and villagers, but he died on the way, Dixit said.
The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, he said, adding that the forest department has provided immediate financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to the boy’s mother, while the process for payment of the remaining compensation as per rules is underway.
Leopard pugmarks have been found near the attack site, Dixit said.
Camera traps are being installed to identify the leopard and cages are being set up to capture it, he said.
“Due to flooding in the area, wild animals are moving towards higher ground and nearby villages,” the DFO said.
In another incident, a three-year-old girl, identified as Lado, was attacked by a leopard in Jodwa village under the Nanpara range of the Bahraich Forest Division late Sunday evening.
DFO of the Bahraich Wildlife Division, Sundaresha, said the injured girl was taken to the Bahraich Medical College and later referred to Lucknow for better treatment.
“According to information received on Tuesday, the girl is safe and her condition is out of danger in Lucknow,” he said.
Dixit said a continuous operation is being carried out to safely remove leopards from populated areas.
“Since July 21, 13 leopards have been rescued, while a total of 18 leopards have been rescued and shifted to safer locations since the beginning of this year,” he added. PTI COR ABN APL
