A sense of fear gripped the residents of Krishnapura Colony in Udaipur early on Thursday morning when a wild leopard entered the densely populated area, leading to an intense eight-hour operation before it could be captured.
Morning Panic as Leopard Enters Colony
The incident began around 5 am when the leopard was first sighted. It entered lane number 3 of Krishnapura Colony from the direction of the nearby Ayad river. Over the next several hours, the big cat moved stealthily between houses, crossing the same area at least three times. At one point, it even briefly entered a residence, forcing terrified locals to lock themselves indoors for their safety.
Coordinated Search and Rescue Operation
Alerts from vigilant residents prompted a swift response. Teams from the Bhupalpura police station and the Udaipur forest department rushed to the scene and launched a coordinated search. The operation proved challenging as the leopard kept changing its location, making it difficult to track and safely approach.
After nearly two hours of careful planning and searching, the breakthrough came. At approximately 1:30 pm, a skilled shooter managed to dart the leopard with a tranquiliser. Officials then waited for a crucial 15 minutes to ensure the animal was fully sedated before safely securing it.
Safe Capture and Expert Commentary
The captured leopard was placed in a cage and transported to the Sajjangarh Biological Park. Shooter Digvijay Singh, who was part of the operation, highlighted the challenges. He stated that the leopard's constant movement delayed the tranquillisation process and that there was always a risk of an attack. He credited the coordinated efforts of the team for the safe conclusion of the mission.
Local resident Vimal Shaktawat recounted the early moments of the scare, noting that the leopard was noticed around 5:30 am, after which information was quickly shared with neighbours and authorities. The emergency operation continued uninterrupted until the animal was safely removed, finally allowing the colony to breathe a sigh of relief.
