Premium
This is an archive article published on January 18, 2004

Mother courage

Two women wrenched their daughters free from the mouths of leopards in Uttarkashi, landing themselves in peril.On Thursday, Balma Devi were ...

google-preferred-btn
.

Two women wrenched their daughters free from the mouths of leopards in Uttarkashi, landing themselves in peril.

On Thursday, Balma Devi were returning home in Malana village with her 11-year-old daughter when a leopard pounced on the girl. Balma managed to pull away the girl. Mother and daughter rolled over on the ground as the leopard attacked Balma. She cried for help as she fought back. As villagers approached, the leopard slipped away and was later shot dead.

Within hours, another leopard attacked a three-year-old on the outskirts of Dehra Dun. Meena 26 and her husband Ram Singh Gurung had come to the Jhajra forests a month ago from Nepal. Last night, Meena heard her daughter Babita scream. She ran outside, kitchen knife in hand, and saw a leopard carrying away the girl. She slashed at the leopard that let go of the child and turned on her. While she fought with the big cat, other labourers joined her, forcing the leopard to flee. Babita suffered serious head injuries.

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Live Blog
PHOTOS
In pics: From concept supercars to electronic SUV's: Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was all about innovation
In Pics: From Concept Supercars to Electric SUVs – Innovation at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025
Top Stories
former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar
2017 Unnao rape case: CBI approaches SC against Delhi HC order
Randhir Jaiswal
India flags concern to the US over cancellation of H1B visa interviews
ott 2025 latest
Shubhra Gupta chooses best OTT series of 2025: From Pataal Lok 2 to Black Warrant, but Family Man 3 sees a drop
Kapil Sharma's Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 will re-release at the theatres in January, 2026
Kapil Sharma blames 'multiplex takeovers by other films' for Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2's failure amid Dhurandhar storm
Flower pots stolen Lucknow
Flower pots stolen hours after PM Modi inaugurates Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, video goes viral
Air India Christmas gifts Bengaluru airport
Air India surprises passengers with personalised Christmas gifts at Bengaluru airport; video goes viral
Virat Kohli in action for Delhi against Gujarat during Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 second round in Bengaluru on Friday. (PHOTO: PTI)
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Virat Kohli stamps his class on a two-paced wicket
Shafali Verma struck 79 not out against Sri Lanka in the third T20I. (PHOTO: Creimas/BCCI)
How Renuka Singh’s four-for and Shafali’s 79 not out set up a clinical win and series triumph against a listless Sri Lanka
AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS, Delhi AIIMS, public healthcare, patient inflows, editorial, Indian express, opinion news, current affairs
You can set up a new AIIMS, but can you also replicate its empathy?
2026 is a big election year, and will likely throw up fresh challenges for both the BJP and the Opposition parties.
Yearender 2025 | Indian politics: A year of deepening political divides sets the stage for another
SRK in leather jacket in DDLJ
Karan Johar shares hilarious story behind Shah Rukh Khan's iconic leather jacket in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: 'Look at the impact'
In computer simulations run by the researchers, the cooling effect became strong enough to push Earth into an ice age. (Image for representation: AI generated/ Freepik)
Could global warming really lead to the next ice age?
Advertisement
Must Read
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Virat Kohli stamps his class on a two-paced wicket
Virat Kohli in action for Delhi against Gujarat during Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 second round in Bengaluru on Friday. (PHOTO: PTI)
How Renuka Singh’s four-for and Shafali’s 79 not out set up a clinical win and series triumph against a listless Sri Lanka
Shafali Verma struck 79 not out against Sri Lanka in the third T20I. (PHOTO: Creimas/BCCI)
Inside Indian football federation’s 20-year plan for league: Rs 1 crore participation fee, promotion and relegation, June to May cycle
FILE: AIFF presented a 20-year plan to the Indian Super League clubs. (PHOTO: Focus Sports/FSDL)
Could global warming really lead to the next ice age?
In computer simulations run by the researchers, the cooling effect became strong enough to push Earth into an ice age. (Image for representation: AI generated/ Freepik)
Archaeologists uncover a 2,200-year-old highway that once connected China’s first empire
Archaeologists uncovered straight, continuous trench passes, reinforced slopes made of rammed earth, compacted roadbeds and valleys that had been deliberately filled to maintain a level route. (image: SCMP/ Handout)
AGI Row: Elon Musk backs Google's Hassabis in dispute with AI pioneer Yann LeCun
Elon Musk joined the AGI debate after backing comments from Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.
Karan Johar shares hilarious story behind Shah Rukh Khan's iconic leather jacket in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: 'Look at the impact'
SRK in leather jacket in DDLJ
Advertisement
Buzzing Now
Flower pots stolen hours after PM Modi inaugurates Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, video goes viral
Flower pots stolen Lucknow
Air India surprises passengers with personalised Christmas gifts at Bengaluru airport; video goes viral
Air India Christmas gifts Bengaluru airport
iShowSpeed panics after paraglider stalls during live stream; video goes viral: ‘Are we going to die?’
iShowSpeed paragliding
Santa Claus wears oxygen mask in Delhi, hands out free metro tickets to promote public transport: ‘Gifts are temporary, lungs are permanent’
Santa Claus oxygen mask delhi
How American expat protects her family from Delhi’s severe air pollution
American woman Delhi air pollution
Dec 26: Latest News
Advertisement