Leopard Emerges from Forest, Spotted Crossing Four-Lane Bypass Near College in Banda

Sagar, Madhya Pradesh: Panic gripped Banda town in Sagar district after a leopard strayed out of the forest and was spotted dangerously close to a residential area. The big cat was seen crossing a four-lane bypass road behind a college campus, triggering fear among locals and prompting an extensive search operation by the forest department.

A video of the leopard roaming near the College Road four-lane bypass surfaced on social media late Friday night. The footage, reportedly shot by a local resident traveling in a car, shows the leopard walking along the roadside before calmly crossing the road and disappearing into the darkness. The video was widely shared to alert residents, including by the local MLA.

Following the sighting, farmers and agricultural workers in nearby areas immediately stopped irrigation work and returned home for safety. The leopard was reportedly roaming the area throughout the night, adding to the sense of fear.

On Saturday morning, the leopard was again spotted near a farmhouse behind the college, close to the fields owned by Pushpendra Lambardar. Locals informed the forest department, after which forest officials, including the ranger and field staff, rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. While pugmarks were found in the fields, the leopard itself remained elusive.

Forest Range Officer Vikas Seth said the leopard was last seen in fields adjoining the forest area and may have retreated into nearby wooded terrain. He added that teams have been deployed and the search operation is ongoing.

As a precautionary measure, the forest department has advised residents not to venture alone into fields, avoid nighttime farm activities, refrain from sleeping outdoors, and ensure that livestock are kept indoors.

The incident has once again highlighted the growing instances of wildlife entering human habitation in forest-adjacent regions, raising concerns over safety and habitat pressure.