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Leopard mauls 7 people in Nagpur residential area; captured after tense operation, vehicle transporting it breaks down midway

The leopard also tried to attack members of the forest department team during the operation to sedate and capture the animal, highlighting the dire conditions they work under in Nagpur.

5 min readUpdated: Dec 11, 2025 11:58 AM IST

According to a senior forest department official, the TTC team received a distress call around 6.15 am (Express photo/Dhananjay Kedkar)

According to a senior forest department official, the TTC team received a distress call around 6.15 am (Express photo/Dhananjay Khedkar)

A leopard entered the densely populated Shiv Nagar area of Pardi in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district on Wednesday morning and injured seven residents, one of whom is in critical condition and has been admitted to the intensive care unit of a local hospital.

The animal was later captured by officials from the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC), located in the Seminary Hills area, after a challenging operation.

During the operation, the leopard tried to attack members of the TTC team, the senior official said, adding that workers could have been seriously injured. (Express Photo by Dhananjay Khedkar)

According to a senior forest department official, the TTC team received a distress call around 6.15 am. It is suspected that the leopard entered the locality during the night and attempted to escape after sunrise. In its effort to find an exit, it attacked several people. Eventually, the leopard took shelter in a narrow space near a house where a cooler was kept.

Also read | 3 more leopards captured in Pune’s Shirur range amid rising human-wildlife conflict

Due to poor visibility and the congested surroundings, tranquillising the animal proved difficult, and two darts had to be fired by the team before the leopard could be sedated and captured. The leopard has been kept at the TTC for further treatment and observation.

The leopard has been kept at the TTC for further treatment and observation. (Express Photo by Dhananjay Khedkar)

During the operation, the leopard tried to attack members of the TTC team, the senior official said, adding that workers could have been seriously injured. Further complications arose when the vehicle transporting the sedated leopard broke down midway, forcing officials to arrange a smaller rented vehicle to complete the transport.

Also read | 90k stray dogs in Mumbai; goats worth Rs 1 crore for leopards: Maharashtra MLAs debate human-animal conflict

Speaking to The Indian Express on the condition of anonymity, a senior official from the TTC raised concern over the lack of funds and safety equipment. “Our rescue team mainly consists of contract workers who work on lower salaries and have no insurance. If something happens to them, who will take responsibility? Today, three team members were attacked,” the official said.

The animal was later captured by officials from the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC), located in the Seminary Hills area, after a challenging operation. (Express Photo by Dhananjay Khedkar)

He alleged that the Nagpur forest division was severely underfunded. “We apply for regular expenses every year in March or April, but large funds are sanctioned for cities that don’t even have forests. Our vehicles are due for servicing, and we don’t even have proper uniforms or safety shields. During today’s rescue, we had to use police shields,” he added.

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Despite the challenges, the official said the forest department continued to respond to distress calls. “Our team is committed and strong, but at the very least, we need basic protective gear and proper facilities to carry out these dangerous rescue operations safely.”

“If these attacks happen in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik, this becomes a topic of concern for the Government, but Nagpur has been largely neglected, even when there is wildlife around the city,” the official said.

During the operation, the leopard tried to attack members of the TTC team, the senior official said, adding that workers could have been seriously injured. (Express Photo by Dhananjay Khedkar)

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik visits injured residents

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik visited the residents attacked by the leopard and told the media that they were all out of danger.

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“I hope such attacks don’t happen in future. Hence, our efforts are focused on keeping leopards confined to forests. But if a leopard wanders into the city and such an unfortunate event happens, the forest department will do its job to alert the residents. We have made such arrangements. The entire state of Maharashtra is affected by leopard attacks. We are thinking along these lines and working to curb the attacks,” he said.

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik visited the residents attacked by the leopard and told the media that they were all out of danger. (Express Photo by Dhananjay Khedkar)

“Permission has been granted to sterilise leopards, but only in a limited number and for a very short period. Within six months, we will know whether it is successful or not. After that, we will seek permission from the Central Government’s forest ministry to carry it out on a large scale, and I am confident that it will succeed,” Naik added.

A day earlier, Naik announced a plan to curb increasing leopard attacks. During the legislature’s winter session in Nagpur, he said that goats would be released in forest areas to prevent leopards from straying into human settlements in search of prey.

Ankita Deshkar

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement) Professional Background & Expertise Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express Experience: Started working in 2016 Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region. Key focus areas include: Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools. Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion. Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur. Education & Credentials Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes: MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University) Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights Recent Notable Coverage Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability: Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions. Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response. Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions. Signature Beat Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety. Contact & Follow X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com ... Read More

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