LUCKNOW: An 88-year-old man was killed after a leopard dragged him away from the veranda of his house in the early hours of Saturday in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, prompting the Forest Department to intensify patrolling in the area.The incident took place around 4 a.m. in Lodhan Purwa village under the Murtiha police station limits in the Kakraha Range of the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, officials said.The deceased, identified as Ram Yadav (88), was asleep on the veranda of his house when the leopard reportedly entered the premises and attacked him. The animal then dragged the elderly man nearly 500 metres away from the house in an apparent attempt to carry him off.Hearing his screams, Ram Yadav’s grandson, Suraj Yadav, along with other family members, rushed out armed with sticks and raised an alarm. Startled by the commotion, the leopard abandoned its prey and fled towards the nearby forest.Ram Yadav sustained severe injuries, particularly to his neck, in the attack. Forest Department personnel reached the village soon after being informed of the incident.The injured man was first taken to the Mihinpurwa Community Health Centre, where doctors administered primary treatment. Owing to the seriousness of his condition, he was referred to the district hospital. However, doctors at the district hospital declared him dead on arrival.Confirming the fatal leopard attack in Bahraich, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Apoorva Dixit said the incident occurred in Lodhan Purwa village under the Kakraha Range of the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division.“The victim, Ram, aged around 88 years, had stepped outside his house to urinate when he was attacked by the leopard. He sustained serious injuries and was immediately taken to the Community Health Centre before being referred to the district hospital. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment,” Dixit said.The DFO said the Forest Department has initiated the process of providing immediate financial assistance to the bereaved family under departmental provisions, while compensation under the applicable disaster relief norms is also being processed on priority. “All necessary documentation is being completed without delay so that the family receives the admissible compensation at the earliest,” he said.Dixit added that the department has launched efforts to capture the leopard responsible for the attack. “The incident took place about 500 metres from the forest boundary. To prevent any further attacks, Forest Department teams have intensified patrolling and continuous monitoring in the area. We are obtaining the necessary permission to install a cage, which will be placed immediately to trap the leopard. Every possible effort is being made to ensure that no similar incident occurs again,” he said.
