Leopard on the prowl terrifies Meerut

A curfew like situation prevailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut town, about 500 kilometres from here, after a stray leopard which had entered a hospital in the cantonment area on Sunday, escaped on Monday morning and was said to be on the loose.

As panic spread in the town, the district authorities ordered closure of all educational institutions and shops in the town and a massive search operation has been launched to trace the elusive big cat.

“We have ordered closure of schools, colleges and markets as a precautionary measure”, the officials said, adding that experts have reached the town to nab the leopard.

“People have been asked to remain indoors”, they added.

The leopard, which was said to have strayed into town from the nearby forests, had managed to escape after being trapped in a room in the hospital at dawn on Monday and was seen loitering around a market complex a little later, sources said.

At least half a dozen people were injured in a bid to save themselves from the big cat.

The leopard kept running here and there as the people threw stones while some tried to hit it with sticks.
 
Unconfirmed reports said that the cops, who were called in to control the animal, also fired at it, creating further panic.The leopard had entered the male ward in a hospital in the cantonment area on Sunday afternoon and was trapped inside  till Monday morning.