7 hurt in leopard attack, fear grips Meerut

Life in Meerut came to a standstill on Wednesday, after seven persons, including a health inspector of the Military hospital, were attacked by a leopard that crept into Meerut city on Tuesday. 

A curfew-like situation prevailed in the entire city as markets, shops, schools, colleges and other public  institutions were closed and residents remained indoors throughout the day. 

The district administration and forest department have formed teams to catch the leopard, who has been spotted in and around the Army cantonment area in the past 24 hours. The administration has also appealed to people to stay indoors. 

On Wednesday, the leopard was seen around 8 am at C block of Race Course Marg near Army Hospital. It was seen attacking people outside a building where children were playing. 

Last week, a male leopard, which had attacked an IAF official at Hasimara airbase, was caught by the forest department officials and released into the forests.

In December, officials of the UP forest department had caught a leopard in Madnapur village. The trap was laid to catch boars and blue bulls. 

In the recent times, incidents of leopard attack has been on rise in the country. The male leopard had injured five people inside Vibgyor Public School in Bengaluru. It was later tranquilized and taken by forest officials.