Garhwal Post Bureau
ALMORA, 13 Sept: Panic has gripped Almora town following repeated leopard sightings in residential areas. Two leopards were spotted together on Friday night in Upreti Khola, a locality situated barely 100 metres from the Nanda Devi temple. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, heightening the anxiety among townspeople who are now demanding that cages be installed to trap the big cats.
Residents of Nanda Devi, Upreti Khola, Lala Bazaar, Bishtakuda, Gopaldhara, Chinakhan, Dharanaula and adjoining areas are living under constant fear due to the growing leopard activity. Just two days earlier, a leopard had killed a dog in the Upreti Khola area. In another instance, CCTV footage captured two leopards moving from the road into a narrow lane between houses near the path from Bawan Sidhi to Gopaldhara, while frightened dogs were seen running away. Such repeated incidents have further deepened the atmosphere of fear.
As dusk falls, people are afraid to step out of their homes, disrupting normal life. Residents are compelled to confine themselves indoors in the evenings, and markets too are seen deserted much earlier than usual. Videos showing leopards wandering in residential areas across different parts of the town are currently circulating widely on social media.
The threat has also cast a shadow on the safety of local artists. Almora, known as a cultural hub, is presently engaged in preparations for Dussehra and Navratri, with work underway on Durga idols and the training for Ramlila performances. Artisans are also busy crafting effigies of Ravana and his kin, often working late into the night. Given that artists and youths return home late after these activities, their safety is under serious risk due to the leopard menace.
