A 45-year-old farmer was seriously injured in a leopard attack while working in a field in Bahraich’s Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, prompting the forest department to intensify patrolling and issue safety advice to villagers during the ongoing crop harvesting season.
The incident took place at around 1 pm on Sunday in Prithvipurwa hamlet of Jhala village, under the Motipur range. The farmer, identified as Kennu, was working in his field when a leopard hiding in an adjoining sugarcane field suddenly attacked him.
Kennu resisted the animal during the assault, but suffered severe injuries to his right hand. The leopard retreated into the sugarcane field after the struggle. The farmer then reached his home, after which family members took him to the Motipur Community Health Centre.
Doctors at the community health centre provided first aid before referring him to a medical college for further treatment because of the seriousness of his injuries. The report did not provide details about his subsequent medical condition.
Apoorv Dixit, divisional forest officer of the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, said a forest department team was sent to the location after officials received information about the attack. Patrolling has been increased in the area, and villagers have been asked to remain alert.
The forest department’s warning is focused particularly on farmers working in standing crops. Dixit advised them to avoid entering fields alone, remain vigilant while cutting crops and take precautions against leopards and other wild animals that may be sheltering in sugarcane and paddy fields.
The timing of the incident has heightened the need for caution among agricultural workers in the area, as farmers continue working through the sugarcane and paddy harvesting season. Standing crops can limit visibility inside fields, making it harder for workers to detect animals before entering or moving through them.
The department is also conducting awareness outreach among villagers to reduce the risk of further encounters. Its immediate response includes field-level deployment, intensified patrols and communication with residents about precautions while working in agricultural plots.
The incident places the focus on the operational challenge faced by communities living and working near the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, where agricultural activity and wildlife habitat exist in close proximity. For residents, the forest department’s current measures are aimed at improving vigilance and preventing another encounter while the leopard’s presence in the area is monitored.
