Bhayandar: Leopard Enters Residential Building, Injures Seven Before Capture After 7-Hour Operation; Video

Bhayandar: A leopard caused widespread panic and chaos in a busy residential area of Bhayandar East on Friday morning after entering a building. Seven people were injured in the predator's attacks before a joint team from the Forest Department and the Fire Brigade successfully captured the animal following a grueling seven-hour operation. Authorities are currently investigating how the leopard managed to enter the urban locality.

The Incident

The leopard is believed to have entered Bhayandar city around midnight. At approximately 7:00 AM, it was spotted entering the Parijat Building on the bustling BP Road in Bhayandar East. The sighting triggered immediate panic, with some locals managing to film the animal on their phones.

Amidst the commotion, the leopard entered an apartment on the first floor belonging to the Tak family, where the door had been left open. It charged into the bedroom and attacked 22-year-old Anjali Tak while she was asleep. As neighbors gathered hearing the screams, the agitated leopard attacked six others in the vicinity.

In a display of remarkable courage, the injured Anjali managed to trap the leopard inside the bedroom. Upon arrival, Fire Brigade personnel broke the window of the house to rescue her.

Status of the Injured

A total of seven people, including three members of the Tak family, sustained injuries and were initially treated at a private hospital in Bhayandar. Anjali Tak, who suffered serious injuries, has been shifted to KEM Hospital for further treatment. Reports indicate that Anjali was recently engaged and her wedding was scheduled to take place in a few days.

A 7-Hour Operation

The rescue operation began at 8:00 AM, involving the Fire Brigade and a specialized team from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). Police cordoned off the entire area and closed nearby roads to manage the crowds.

Since the leopard was confined to a bedroom, the rescue team used a window to fire a tranquilizer dart. The animal finally lost consciousness around 3:00 PM. Once sedated, the leopard was placed in a cage and transported to SGNP.

The successful capture brought a massive sigh of relief to the local residents. High-ranking officials, including Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MLA Narendra Mehta, and Municipal Commissioner Radhabinod Sharma, were present at the scene throughout the operation. Minister Sarnaik assured the public that the government would take necessary steps to prevent such wildlife intrusions into the city.

Mystery Over the Leopard’s Entry

The BP Road area near Bhayandar East railway station is a highly congested and densely populated zone, making the leopard's presence there a mystery. While some witnesses claimed to have seen the animal roaming the streets at midnight, officials are now scanning CCTV footage to trace its path.

Commissioner Sharma stated that a thorough investigation is underway to understand how the leopard reached the heart of the city and to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.

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