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Journalism of Courage
Cognizant has issued a safety advisory to employees after repeated claims of leopard sightings across parts of Pune, asking staff to exercise caution while commuting and on campus. The internal note urges employees to avoid isolated and poorly lit areas, limit movement during early morning and late-night hours, and remain alert while travelling to and from work, as the campus is located close to hilly and forested patches.
Ashutosh Pandey, member of the Forum for IT Employees and a resident of Hinjewadi, said the advisory appears “precautionary and driven by local conversations rather than authenticated inputs”. “There has been a lot of discussion among residents about leopard sightings in Phase 2 and Phase 3. When we reached out to the forest department and police, they said there was no authenticated confirmation. Despite that, fear among people is very real due to the terrain and poorly lit stretches,” he said, adding that other major IT companies in the area have not issued similar advisories so far.
Sharing similar concerns, Mukesh P, an employee of Capgemini, said the issue has become a regular workplace conversation. “People are genuinely scared, especially those who work late hours. This is something we constantly discuss. Many employees cannot simply leave before sunset due to work. Where possible, companies should consider temporary work from home options until authorities confirm there is no threat,” he said.
The advisory also lists dos and don’ts in the event of a wildlife encounter — including remaining calm, avoiding sudden movements, maintaining eye contact, and informing security personnel immediately.
