Leopard kills woman in UP's Bahraich as wild cats stray into villages after floods

A 35-year-old woman was killed after a leopard attacked her in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division of Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district, a forest official said on Friday. The attack is the latest in a series of recent leopard sightings and attacks reported from the area.

Forest officials said the movement of leopards into human-inhabited areas has increased after floods, leading to intensified surveillance and rescue operations.

Residents living near the forest said the frequent movement of wild animals has caused fear, with many shopkeepers opening late in the morning and shutting early in the evening.

Divisional Forest Officer Apurva Dixit said, "The incident took place around 6 pm on Thursday when Mamta, wife of Rajendra and a resident of Gaderian Purwa in Sujauli village, was working in a field near her house."

He added, "The leopard emerged from the sugarcane field and attacked the woman, resulting in her death."

The officer said the spot was around 2 km from the nearest forest and that a forest department team had reached the area. Mamta's husband, who was in Rajasthan, reached Bahraich on Friday morning.

Police took the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem examination.

Dixit said the forest department had conducted two wildlife awareness campaigns in the Sujauli area a few days before the incident. Elephant patrols had also been carried out to keep large carnivores away from human settlements.

He said, "Two camera traps were installed around 100–200 metres from the spot just minutes before the attack."

The incident comes amid several recent reports of leopard attacks in the area. Earlier this month, an 86-year-old woman was killed in a leopard attack, while a young person was injured in another incident.

Several leopards have also been safely rescued in different parts of Bahraich in recent days. Residents have also reported other wildlife movement near populated areas.

On Wednesday evening, villagers said a leopard was seen resting on an empty cot in the courtyard of a hut near a sand dump in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division.

Local shopkeeper Yusuf photographed the leopard while hiding and alerted nearby people. When residents raised an alarm, the leopard left the hut and moved towards the fields.

On Thursday morning, a tigress and her three cubs were seen walking along the Motipur-Sujauli road, causing a temporary halt in traffic.

Passersby stopped and moved back as the animals remained on the road before later entering the forest.