Thursday, 27 October 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Leopard scare in Balawala area of Dehradun has forced locals to stay indoors after 6 PM as many have observed a leopard frequenting different colonies of the area in the past three days. Panic has gripped the locals as the forest department has still not caught the leopard and many even feel scared stepping out of their houses during daytime.
Some residents claim that there are not one but two leopards frequenting the different parts of the area. Locals said that the team of forest department arrived at the scene in the past three days only after the leopard spotted at a certain location had left the spot. “It is festival season and the number of people passing through the area has increased in recent days. We know it is not quite easy to catch a leopard roaming around but the department should at least make efforts using different methods to nab it rather than just arriving at the scene when somebody spots the leopard,” said a Balawala resident Naresh Singh.
Locals said they would start a protest if the department fails to catch the leopard soon. Talking about the leopard scare in his ward, the Balawala councillor, Narender Bisht told The Pioneer that though no one has been hurt by leopard so far, the locals are advised to stay indoors after it gets dark as the leopard is still frequenting several parts of the area. “We are in constant touch with the forest officials.
The team arrives in the area everyday to monitor the situation. Besides this, the forest officials arrive immediately at the spot when we complain of spotting the leopard. Some locals are furious over the department which is understandable considering the current circumstances but one should also understand that they are doing what they can in such a situation. We have appealed to the department to take necessary actions to catch the leopard. Till then, all are advised to stay alert and safe,” said the councillor.
