Mumbai: Panic swept through the BP Road area of Bhayandar East in the early hours of Friday after a leopard strayed into a residential neighbourhood and attacked several residents, leaving at least seven people injured and causing widespread fear among locals.
The incident unfolded near Parijat Society, where the animal was first spotted moving through the locality and attacking people who were outdoors at the time. As alarm spread, residents rushed indoors while authorities were alerted. The leopard later entered a residential building, escalating concerns in the densely populated area.
Emergency teams from the Navghar police station, Bhayandar fire brigade, Thane forest department, and officials from Sanjay Gandhi National Park were immediately deployed. The building and surrounding streets were sealed off, and residents were instructed to remain inside their homes as a precaution while the operation was underway.
After a carefully coordinated rescue effort lasting nearly six hours, forest officials managed to tranquillise the leopard using a precision dart. The operation was carried out without injury to either the animal or the rescue teams, bringing relief to anxious residents who had been on edge for hours.
The leopard was subsequently secured and transported to the Leopard Rescue Centre at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, where it will undergo medical evaluation and rehabilitation before a decision is taken on its future.
All injured residents were rushed to nearby hospitals and are reported to be in stable condition. Doctors said timely medical attention helped prevent serious complications.
Reacting to the incident, Mira-Bhayandar MLA Narendra Mehta urged the state government to step in swiftly. He called for free medical treatment for all victims and demanded compensation for those injured. He described the incident as deeply concerning and stressed the urgent need for preventive measures to stop wild animals from entering urban settlements.
