LUDHIANA: Two people were injured when a leopard entered a farmhouse in Sanghowal area
of the city. One of them, a worker, was visiting the farmhouse for the
first time to check the delivery of tiles. The other injured was a
forest guard, who was attacked while he tried to protect himself with an
axe. Both are out of danger now. Residents of Sanghowal witnessed a
jam-packed road, as almost 200 spectators had gathered to watch the
rescue operation of a leopard, which was finally captured after much
effort.
A worker dealing with tiles had come to check the delivery at the farmhouse, which is still under construction. As he went towards the inner room where the tiles were stored, he bent down to pull a pack. It was then that he was attacked by a leopard which was hiding there. Fellow labourers reached the spot and carried him to the Civil Hospital, while the leopard ran towards the other room. This happened around 9am, and the police arrived at around 9.20. The forest guards had begun planning for a rescue operation at around 10.30, after climbing up on the roof.
When they realised they needed help, a team of forest guards was called from Chandigarh Chhatbir Zoo with a cage and some equipment. The Chandigarh forest team arrived at around 12.30. People from nearby villages had been standing there since morning just to catch a glimpse of the leopard, but only once did the leopard show up when he jumped from one window to the other. There was an air of fear and excitement among the people gathered there at that moment. Forest guards were seen climbing up the ladder to the terrace, then hurrying down, grabbing a tranquilizing gun, and then rushing up again. When one of the forest guards fired a shot at the leopard, it hit the animal's right leg. The injured leopard became furious and attacked the guard who tried to protect himself with an axe, after which other guards rushed to his rescue.
Surprisingly, even though the planning for the rescue operation began in the morning, no ambulance or medical vans were available for first aid. Even after the leopard attacked Narinder Singh, the forest guard from Ludhiana district, the latter was taken to hospital in a private vehicle.
"They should at least have called for an ambulance in case of an emergency," said Bhupinder Singh, a resident of a nearby village. "So many people have gathered here, including me. I know it's our fault that we are risking our lives, but not for us, at least for the guards and others inside who are prone to attack from the leopard, the officials should have made some arrangements," he said.
In the evening, even school kids made their way to the hot spot, hoping to see the leopard. And while the spectators stood at a safe distance, the only time they panicked was whenever the leopard growled. However, the policemen seemed panicky, as they started shouting at people to move back. While several shots were fired at the leopard by the forest guards, none seemed to have hit him. However, after much effort, one shot finally hit the animal on his neck and sedated him. At 7.30pm, he was put in a cage and taken to Chhatbir Zoo, Chandigarh.
Ludhiana District Fire Officer Baljit Singh Brar said they had called the forest team from Chandigarh, because they wanted to play it safe and not risk anyone's life. "Of course, the equipment they had brought, like a tranquilizing gun, we too had it. And we had started the mission since morning, but first, we spent some time observing what could be done. We started finally with the operation around 4.30 and captured the leopard at 7.30."
A worker dealing with tiles had come to check the delivery at the farmhouse, which is still under construction. As he went towards the inner room where the tiles were stored, he bent down to pull a pack. It was then that he was attacked by a leopard which was hiding there. Fellow labourers reached the spot and carried him to the Civil Hospital, while the leopard ran towards the other room. This happened around 9am, and the police arrived at around 9.20. The forest guards had begun planning for a rescue operation at around 10.30, after climbing up on the roof.
When they realised they needed help, a team of forest guards was called from Chandigarh Chhatbir Zoo with a cage and some equipment. The Chandigarh forest team arrived at around 12.30. People from nearby villages had been standing there since morning just to catch a glimpse of the leopard, but only once did the leopard show up when he jumped from one window to the other. There was an air of fear and excitement among the people gathered there at that moment. Forest guards were seen climbing up the ladder to the terrace, then hurrying down, grabbing a tranquilizing gun, and then rushing up again. When one of the forest guards fired a shot at the leopard, it hit the animal's right leg. The injured leopard became furious and attacked the guard who tried to protect himself with an axe, after which other guards rushed to his rescue.
Surprisingly, even though the planning for the rescue operation began in the morning, no ambulance or medical vans were available for first aid. Even after the leopard attacked Narinder Singh, the forest guard from Ludhiana district, the latter was taken to hospital in a private vehicle.
"They should at least have called for an ambulance in case of an emergency," said Bhupinder Singh, a resident of a nearby village. "So many people have gathered here, including me. I know it's our fault that we are risking our lives, but not for us, at least for the guards and others inside who are prone to attack from the leopard, the officials should have made some arrangements," he said.
In the evening, even school kids made their way to the hot spot, hoping to see the leopard. And while the spectators stood at a safe distance, the only time they panicked was whenever the leopard growled. However, the policemen seemed panicky, as they started shouting at people to move back. While several shots were fired at the leopard by the forest guards, none seemed to have hit him. However, after much effort, one shot finally hit the animal on his neck and sedated him. At 7.30pm, he was put in a cage and taken to Chhatbir Zoo, Chandigarh.
Ludhiana District Fire Officer Baljit Singh Brar said they had called the forest team from Chandigarh, because they wanted to play it safe and not risk anyone's life. "Of course, the equipment they had brought, like a tranquilizing gun, we too had it. And we had started the mission since morning, but first, we spent some time observing what could be done. We started finally with the operation around 4.30 and captured the leopard at 7.30."