Leopard Kills One, Injures Eight in Mandi’s Balh Valley.
Shimla:
Panic swept through the Balh Valley in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh today morning after a man-eating leopard went on a rampage across three villages, killing one person and injuring eight others. The ordeal came to an end when vigilant villagers united to kill the leopard.
According to reports, the leopard first attacked residents in Chandyal village in the early hours, creating chaos and fear. It then moved to Bhadyal village, where it injured several people. Four individuals sustained serious injuries in these two villages. The animal later reached Malwana village, fatally attacking a youth identified as Balbir Singh, a resident of Bheuli, who had come to Balh Valley to visit relatives. The attack left him no chance to escape, resulting in his death on the spot.
The injured victims, including Sahib Singh, Deenanath, Champa Devi, Janit, Rekha Devi, and others, were immediately rushed to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Medical College, Nerchowk, where they are currently receiving treatment. Authorities confirmed that all injured are now out of danger.
Following the attacks, fear gripped the local population. Residents armed themselves with sticks and improvised weapons to protect their families. When the leopard attempted another attack, the villagers collectively confronted and killed the animal. The leopard’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
Administrative Response
On receiving information, teams from the administration, police, and forest department rushed to the affected areas to assess the situation. SDM Balh, Smritika Negi, confirmed the incident and stated that immediate relief is being provided to the deceased’s family and support is being extended to the injured. After the autopsy, the body of the deceased was handed over to relatives for last rites.
Forest Department Investigation
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Mandi, Vasu Doegar, said the leopard, a male, likely lost its territory and entered human settlements. He added that forest staff visited the spot immediately and found the leopard dead. The department is investigating the matter and will implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Relief Measures
As per the relief manual, the family of the deceased will receive Rs. 4 lakh, victims with permanent disabilities will get Rs. 2 lakh, grievously injured victims Rs. 75,000, and those with minor injuries Rs. 15,000. Payments will be made after post-mortem and medical reports are finalized.
The DFO also directed forest staff to conduct night patrolling for the coming days and advised residents to remain vigilant, especially during nighttime.
Local Concerns
Residents of Balh Valley continue to live in fear and have urged authorities to take concrete steps to address the increasing movement of wild animals near human settlements.
