Man-eating leopard forces closure of schools in Pauri Garhwal

The presence of a man-eating leopard in Damdewal range in Pauri Garhwal has forced authorities to close six primary schools in Ekeshwar Development Block in the district, District Education officer Bhupendra Singh said.

Recently, a 40-year-old shopkeeper of Esoti village in Ekeshwar development block was found dead, his body half-eaten by a leopard, 200 metres away from his shop in the fields, Singh said.

Since then, a leopard had been found lurking in the area, he said, adding, forest officials have set up traps in various places to catch the animal.

Conservator of Forest (Garhwal Division) D J Sharma said the leopard has been declared a man-eater after demand of villagers and monitoring its movements.

A hunting party will also be deployed to capture the animal, Sharma said.