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Leopard Scare: Kolhapur Residents on Edge
30 Sep
Summary
- Leopard sighting reported near Rankala Lake road.
- Extensive search conducted with thermal drone and teams.
- Officials urge residents to exercise caution after dark.
Late on Monday, a reported leopard sighting on the road between Lakshatirth Vasahat and Phulekolhapur's Phulewadi petrol pump sent authorities into action. A resident alerted police after spotting the animal, which then reportedly vanished into a sugar cane field. This prompted a rapid response from forest officials, police, and the KMC fire brigade.
Teams launched an extensive search operation spanning approximately 6 kilometers. They utilized a thermal drone to scan the dense sugar cane fields, but no definitive evidence of the leopard was found by Tuesday. Range Forest Officer Nandkumar Nalawade noted that the thick vegetation and the large crowd hampered the search for pugmarks.
Despite the lack of confirmation, the incident caused unease among residents in the settlement-surrounded area. Officials have urged the public not to panic but to exercise caution, advising against venturing out alone at night. The search operation by forest personnel is ongoing.
