Nuapada: Panic gripped Kukudatal village after locals spotted a pair of leopards atop a hill inside Musringi Reserve Forest in Nuapada district.
Forest Department officials led by Range Officer, Asit Das reached the spot on Thursday. Efforts are on to drive them into the deep forest.
Villagers have been advised to stay calm and not harm them.
“We are keeping a watch on the movement of the leopards. Patrolling has been intensified in the area and locals have been asked not to venture into the forest at night and keep domestic animals safe,” said Das.
The sighting of the leopards brought back memories of the 2017 incident when a leopard snatched a four-year old boy from his mother while he was sleeping and mauled him to death in a nearby forest at Haldi village in the district.
Villagers have demanded the officials to provide them security.
