Villager Severely Injured in Sudden Leopard Attack
A morning trip to the forest turned into a nightmare for a villager in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district. On Tuesday morning, Kejau Ram Kanwar was attacked by a leopard while he was collecting neem leaves in the forest near Lohjhri village in the Dongargarh region.
The incident occurred within the area of the Mohara forest outpost. According to reports, the leopard emerged suddenly from the forest and attacked Kanwar. The animal's claws struck his head, causing a deep and serious injury.
Rushed Treatment and Escalating Fear
Following the attack, Kanwar's family members and fellow villagers acted swiftly. They first took him to the Dongargarh community health centre for immediate aid. However, due to the severity of his wounds, doctors referred him to the Rajnandgaon Medical College for advanced treatment, where he is currently undergoing care.
This alarming event has renewed deep-seated fear among residents living in the Dongargarh forest belt. For several months, locals from Lohjhri, Mohara, and surrounding villages have reported frequent leopard sightings, particularly after dusk near the forest edges.
While incidents of livestock being killed by leopards were previously common, a direct attack on a human is considered rare in this region, making Tuesday's event particularly shocking for the community.
Official Response and Community Demands
In the aftermath of the attack, teams from the forest department and local police promptly arrived at the village. Forest officials have announced plans to intensify surveillance and safety measures. Their strategy includes:
- Installation of trap cameras to monitor leopard movement.
- Increased patrolling in vulnerable forest areas.
- Awareness programmes to caution villagers against entering forests alone.
The local residents have voiced strong demands to the authorities. They are calling for temporary restrictions on forest entry until the leopard threat is controlled. Additionally, they have requested:
- Regular night patrolling in and around village peripheries.
- The deployment of rapid response teams to address any future emergencies swiftly.
The incident underscores the growing tension and human-wildlife conflict in regions adjoining forest areas, highlighting the urgent need for effective coexistence strategies and preventive measures to ensure community safety.
