A young boy's incredible bravery prevented a tragedy in a Sangli village when he fought to save his sister from a leopard. The heart-stopping incident occurred in Upwale village, located in Shirala tehsil, on Wednesday night.
Night Stroll Turns into Nightmare
On the evening of Wednesday, around 8:30 PM, two siblings from the Patil family were outside their home. Eleven-year-old Shivam Patil and his nine-year-old sister Swaranjali had just finished dinner and were taking a casual walk, holding hands, near their house which is close to the Hanuman temple in Upwale.
Without warning, a leopard that was hiding next to the house launched a sudden attack. The big cat pounced on young Swaranjali and caught her by the neck with its jaws.
A Brother's Unyielding Grip
As the leopard began to drag Swaranjali away, her hand slipped from her brother's grasp. Demonstrating remarkable presence of mind, Shivam did not hesitate. He immediately grabbed onto his sister's legs and held on tightly. Despite the leopard's efforts to pull the girl into the darkness, Shivam refused to let go.
The children's mother, Swapnali Patil, heard the commotion and rushed to the spot. Her screams raised an alarm, alerting other villagers who quickly ran to help. Faced with the growing noise and gathering people, the leopard loosened its grip on the girl and fled into the night.
Minor Injuries and Forest Department Response
Forest officials later confirmed that Swaranjali sustained only minor injuries to her hand, neck, and back. They credited her thick sweater and cap for preventing the leopard's teeth from penetrating her neck deeply. She was promptly taken to the sub-district hospital in Shirala for treatment.
Forest Ranger Anil Waze of the Shirala range stated that a team has been deployed in Upwale village to track and trap the leopard. Pugmarks were found at the attack site. Ranger Waze also issued a warning, requesting residents to stay alert and not allow children to venture out after dark.
This is not the first such incident in the area; a similar leopard attack was reported here about a year ago. The forest department's efforts are now focused on ensuring the safety of the villagers by capturing the animal.
