In Udaipur’s Gogunda region, two people have died in leopard attacks within 24 hours, prompting local protests that blocked the state highway between Jhadol and Gogunda. The first victim, 16-year-old Kamla, went missing while grazing goats in Undithal village. Search efforts revealed her body the next day, dragged 4 kilometers into the forest.
The second incident occurred on Thursday evening in nearby Bhediya when Khemaram was attacked by a leopard while returning home with his son. The boy fled for help, but the leopard fatally injured Khemaram before villagers arrived to find the leopard next to his body, raising fears that the animal could be a man-eater. Locals believe it may be the same leopard responsible for Kamla’s death.
The forest department has deployed teams to locate the leopard, setting traps and installing trackers in the area. Experts warn that man-animal conflicts are on the rise due to increasing leopard populations and shrinking forest habitats. They caution that it is premature to label the leopard a man-eater based on just two attacks.
Leopards are known to venture near human settlements, often attacking domestic animals and occasionally humans at the edges of forested areas. A similar incident was reported on September 8, involving a woman near Udaipur’s Jhadol. The situation remains tense as the community seeks urgent action to address their safety concerns.
