Dhar Leopard Attack: Big Cat Enters Village, Pounces on Forest Guard and Injures 4 Others; Search Underway (Watch Video)

A leopard strayed into a residential area in Dhar district on Wednesday morning, injuring five people, including a forest guard, during an attempted rescue operation. The incident occurred in Gujri Dehriya village under the Dhamnod forest range, triggering panic among residents.

The injured, identified as forest guard Daddoo Singh and villagers Mahesh Vaskele, Gyarasi Lal Solanki, Kantabai Rathore and Vikas Dabar, were initially treated at a local health centre before being referred to a district hospital for further care. Leopard Attack in Karnataka: 30-Year-Old Pilgrim Mauled to Death in Talubetta Forest Near Male Mahadeshwara Hill.

Dhar Leopard Attack Video

After villagers alerted authorities, a forest department team reached the area to capture the animal. However, during the operation, the leopard reportedly attacked both villagers and forest personnel before escaping. A video of the incident has surfaced, and officials have launched a search operation to locate and secure the animal.

According to local residents, the leopard emerged suddenly from nearby bushes and entered the settlement, attacking people in its path. During the chaos, a villager struck the animal with a stick, allowing it to flee. A youth also reportedly attempted to catch the leopard. Forest guard Daddoo Singh said the team had been conducting a search when the attack occurred, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the situation. Rajasthan Farmer Kills Leopard With Axe While Defending Himself, Forest Department Launches Probe.

Doctors said the victims sustained injuries including claw wounds to the stomach, shoulders and face. Dr Babul Nigwal from Dhamnod Civil Hospital confirmed that all five were later referred for advanced treatment due to the nature of their injuries.

Divisional Forest Officer Vijay T Natham said more than 30 forest personnel, along with police teams, have been deployed at the site. The leopard is believed to be hiding inside a pipe beneath a culvert.

Authorities have sealed one end of the pipe using machinery and placed nets and cages at the other end to trap the animal. A specialised rescue team from Indore has also been called in to assist.

Officials noted that nearby regions, including the Vindhyachal and Mandav hills, are known leopard habitats, though such intrusions into residential areas are rare. The animal had previously been spotted near the Bombay–Agra National Highway earlier this year and was linked to livestock attacks in nearby villages.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2026 09:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).