Elderly woman injured in leopard attack in Guwahati, effort on to age the animal

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 20, 2024

An elderly woman was mauled by a leopard (suspected) at Girijananda Choudhury Path, by lane-2 near Bharat Sewa Ashram at Kalapahar area of the city ay around 2.30 am on Saturday.

The woman identified as Dipali Das was shifted to Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH). She has received grievous injuries in her neck and other parts of her body.

“Dipali Das (45) of Fatasil Ambari, Kamrup Metro was severely injured by a wild animal suspected to be a leopard and is now undergoing treatment at GMCH. The forest department is actively supporting her family in accessing medical care,” Rohini Ballav Saikia, divisional forest officer (DFO), Kamrup East Forest Division said.

A team of forest personnel from Kalapahar and Fatasil Beat led by ACF Monoranjan Barman, Divisional Forest Office, Kamrup East Division reached the hospital and took stock of the situation.

“The place of occurrence was also verified and one trap cage has been installed with the help of Assam State Zoo to rescue and rehab the animal in distress,” Pranjal Barua, range officer, Guwahati Forest Range, said.

Due to frequent leopard sightings, the Assam Forest Department has designated the hills surrounding the GMCH as a “leopard-bearing area” on July 18.

According to the department, the connecting road between Kahilipara and GMCH along with the surrounding hilly areas is identified as a potential leopard habitat.

The department has already put-up warning signs near GMCH, GMCH Guest House, Kamalnagar roadside, and Rajib Nagar for public awareness.

The decision was taken after repeated instances of the sightings of leopards in and around the area, an official of the forest department said.

Guwahati has inter-connected hillocks, the natural habitat of leopards and provides natural passage to spotted cats.