Following the tragic death of a 13-year-old girl, Sakshi, in the Bhilangana area, local authorities have closed schools to ensure the safety of students. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when Sakshi ventured outside her home in Kot Maher village to play.
Reports indicate that a leopard, lying in wait, pounced on her. Despite the efforts of neighbours who rushed to her aid and tried to scare the animal away, the leopard dragged her approximately 50 meters before escaping into the surrounding forest.
This leopard is already infamous for previous attacks; it had killed a nine-year-old girl in Bhaund village in July and a three-year-old boy in Purwal village in September. In light of these alarming incidents, local officials are taking swift action. Divisional Forest Officer Puneet Tomar, who has been camping in the village since Sunday, confirmed that a dedicated forest department team is actively searching for the leopard using drone technology to enhance their efforts.
In response to the heightened danger, Tehri District Magistrate Mayur Dixit has declared a three-day holiday for schools in the affected areas, including primary schools in Bhaud Purwal and Anganwadi centres. Additionally, the half-yearly examinations scheduled for this period have been postponed to prioritize student safety. To further protect children attending distant schools, the forest department has arranged transportation to ensure their secure travel.
In a gesture of support for the victim's family, the forest department has deposited a compensation amount of ₹2 lakh into their account. Range Officer Ashish Nautiyal stated that additional safety measures, including improved lighting, have been implemented to capture the elusive leopard. As the search continues, the community remains on high alert, hoping for a swift resolution to this dangerous situation.