PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Champawat
A daughter fought off a leopard, saved her father and trapped it inside the house. Later, it was rescued and caged. The incident occurred late Friday night in Simalta gram panchayat, about 12 KMs from the Champawat district headquarters.
It is learnt that the leopard, lying in wait, stole into the house and attacked the elderly man (64), identified as Suresh Chandra Pandey, who was watching television at home. “His daughter, Kiran Pandey, who had been at her parents’ home for a few days, displayed courage, saving not only her father’s life but also trapping the leopard inside the house,” said a neighbour of the family. The elderly man was seriously injured and was immediately taken to Champawat district hospital,
Upon learning of the incident, a large number of villagers arrived at the scene. The Forest department was informed following which a team arrived at the scene led by the sub-divisional forest officer, Sunil Kumar.
The team carried out a rescue operation late into the night. The leopard was tranquilised and captured in a cage. It would now be sent to a rescue centre, Kumar said, adding that his department is providing all possible assistance to the family.
