A woman was critically injured after a leopard attacked her while she was cutting grass in the Kumola Tok area of Pujeli village, Uttarkashi district. The incident occurred in the Purola block, where local residents rushed to her aid after hearing her screams, forcing the leopard to flee. The injured woman was taken to a nearby hospital and later referred to a higher center for advanced treatment.
The victim, Urmila Devi, wife of Chandramohan Nautiyal, was cutting grass near the village’s apple orchards. Despite the presence of laborers engaged in apple harvesting nearby, the leopard launched a sudden attack around midday. Urmila sustained serious injuries to her head and arm during the assault.
The incident has sparked panic in the region, especially among laborers and villagers working near the orchards. Residents have demanded that the Forest Department install cages and implement permanent measures to capture the leopard and prevent future attacks.
Responding to the incident, the Forest Department team conducted a site inspection and began patrolling the area. Deputy Conservator of Forests D.P. Baluni confirmed that Range Officer Abhilash Saxena was sent to assess the woman’s condition at the hospital. Additional teams, including SDO and other forest personnel, have been deployed to monitor the area closely and conduct combing operations.
The Forest Department has also urged villagers—especially women—not to venture into forested areas alone and to travel in groups while exercising caution during activities like grass cutting.
