8 injured in two leopard attacks in Chhattisgarh, 6-month-pregnant woman among victims

Karipani/Dhamtari: Eight people, including a six-month-pregnant woman, were injured in two leopard attacks in villages near the Dhamtari-Kondagaon district border in Chhattisgarh. The incidents occurred within hours of each other which prompted forest officials to intensify efforts to locate and capture the animal.

The first incident was reported at around 10 pm on Wednesday in Karipani village, located in the Sitanadi forest area of Dhamtari district. According to villagers, a leopard entered the settlement and attacked a bull, triggering a commotion.

Urmila Bai Markam, 60, came out of her house after hearing the noise and was attacked by the animal. Her brother, Sundar Lal Netam, also 60, was injured while attempting to rescue her. A neighbour, Manai Bai, sustained injuries when she reached the spot.

The three victims were taken to a government hospital in Nagri. Urmila and Sundar Lal were later referred to Dhamtari district hospital for further treatment, while Manai Bai remained at the Nagri facility.

A second attack was reported at around 5 am on Thursday in Bastar Budra village in Kondagaon district. Five members of a family were sitting in their courtyard around a fire and shelling maize when the leopard attacked them.

Among the injured was Ramshila Mandavi, 34, who is six months pregnant. Devalal Watti, 66, Duaruram Mandavi, 44, and Lata Mandavi, 40, were also among those hurt. All five were taken to hospital, with one seriously injured person later referred to Kanker for treatment.

Forest officials said the leopard had been spotted in the Bahigaon-Karipani belt on Wednesday, before the attacks took place. It was also seen in a maize field in Bahigaon at around 3 pm and was later reported crossing a road. A video of the sighting has circulated on social media.

Officials believe the animal involved in both attacks may be the same leopard, based on preliminary tracking and the proximity of the villages. However, they are still assessing its movement.

A baited cage has been placed to capture the animal. Teams from the Keshkal forest division and the Udanti-Sitanadi landscape have intensified search operations and are using drones to monitor its movements.