Leopard Attack Claims Boy's Life in Katarniaghat

A 14-year-old boy named Arvind Kumar was killed in a leopard attack while guarding a maize field in Somaigaurhi village. The incident is the third fatality related to human-wildlife conflict in Katarniaghat since April. Authorities are taking measures to capture the leopard.

A tragic incident unfolded in Somaigaurhi village of Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, where a 14-year-old boy, Arvind Kumar, died in a leopard attack, officials reported on Saturday. The attack occurred around 7 pm on Friday as Arvind accompanied his family to guard their maize field, noted Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) B Shivshankar. The leopard retreated to the forest when villagers arrived on the scene, he added.

The critically injured boy was swiftly taken to a local government hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. The post-mortem is currently in progress, and financial aid will be provided to the bereaved family once legal procedures conclude, confirmed the DFO.

This fatal incident marks the third death linked to human-wildlife conflicts in Katarniaghat since April, according to Shivshankar. After the death of two children in Dharmapur forest, three leopards were successfully rescued using cages. In response to Friday's tragedy, the forest department has set up three cages around the village and is conducting round-the-clock monitoring in an effort to capture the predatory leopard.

(With inputs from agencies.)