Jamshedpur: A wave of caution has been issued to railway personnel and local residents after a suspected leopard was sighted near the Tatanagar railway yard and its adjoining areas late on Tuesday. According to reports, the big cat was first spotted by a railway employee and later allegedly entered a house in Makhdumpur on Wednesday.
Panic in Residential Areas
Abha Devi, a resident of Munsibadi, recounted her terrifying experience. "I was completely panicked to see it under the cot inside my house. However, it fled instantly when I screamed," she said. Following this incident, the animal was reportedly seen near the Jojobera railway line, further escalating concerns among locals.
Authorities Step Up Measures
The straying of the suspected leopard into residential areas has prompted the police to increase patrolling, while forest officials have initiated round-the-clock surveillance. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Saba Alam confirmed that a dedicated team of five officials has been deployed to search for the animal. "Five trap cameras have also been installed to capture its movement and track the location," Alam said, adding that pug marks will be examined to confirm the species. However, he did not rule out the possibility that it could be a wild cat rather than a leopard.
Initial Sighting at Railway Yard
Late on Tuesday, Tatanagar railway employee Rahul Kumar was the first to spot the animal while guiding the Tata-Chapra train on the platform. "Due to the darkness and distance, I couldn’t clearly see it. However, it appeared to be a leopard," he said. Immediately, the Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police (GRP) at Tatanagar were alerted, and Jamshedpur forest division officials were called for surveillance.
Advisory for Public and Staff
The railways have advised employees and the public to remain vigilant. "We have advised all against walking alone in the area. Employees have been instructed to carry a torch and stick," said Sameer Saurabh, Area Railway Manager at Tatanagar. This incident echoes a similar event two years ago when a leopard triggered panic in the neighboring Adityapur industrial area before wandering into Kadma’s biodiversity park in March 2024, keeping forest officials on high alert for days.
