Rudraprayag: A tragic incident has shaken the Sindhwani area of Rudraprayag district. On Tuesday, a leopard snatched a five-year-old child from his mother’s
hand while they were in the courtyard of their home. The leopard ran into the forest, leaving the family and villagers in shock. Later, child’s body was recovred from the nearby forests in a mutilated state.
Following the incident, the district administration declared a two-day holiday on February 4 and 5 in eight schools of the area to ensure children’s safety. In addition, all nearby Anganwadi centres have also been closed.
रुद्रप्रयाग के छिनका–ककोडाखाल क्षेत्र में गुलदार द्वारा उठाए गए 5 साल के बच्चे का शव गांव से करीब एक किलोमीटर दूर जंगल में क्षत–विक्षत हालत में मिला है।
🙏 मासूम की आत्मा को शांति मिले। https://t.co/DopTy5Sc3o
— Kumaon Jagran (@KumaonJagran) February 3, 2026
Atmosphere of fear and anxiety in the entire region
The incident has created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety in the entire region. Villagers have been searching for the child since Tuesday, later his body was found severely disfigured state in the nearby forest. The community is deeply disturbed, and parents are afraid to send their children out of their homes.
Villagers demanded immediate and concrete action
District Panchayat member Jaivardhan Kandpal expressed concern over the rising number of wild animal-human conflicts in the district. He demanded immediate and concrete action from the administration to prevent such incidents in the future. Kandpal said that the safety of villagers must be prioritized, and effective measures should be taken to control leopard movements near residential areas.
Forest officials and local teams working together
The administration had launched a search operation in the area, with forest officials and local teams working together. Villagers had also helped the authorities. However, the fear of leopard attacks has gripped the community, and people are avoiding venturing out after dark.
Growing problem of human-wildlife conflict in Uttarakhand’s hilly districts
This incident highlights the growing problem of human-wildlife conflict in Uttarakhand’s hilly districts. Leopards often enter villages in search of food, leading to dangerous encounters. Experts believe that shrinking forest cover and increasing human activity in wildlife habitats are major reasons behind such conflicts.
Villagers are demanding stronger patrolling, awareness campaigns, and preventive steps to ensure that children and families can live safely without the constant threat of leopard attacks.
