Leopard Mauls Boy in Dibrugarh

Guwahati: A 12-year-old boy remains in critical condition after a leopard attack in Dibrugarh district. Pulak Gogoi was gathering vegetable fern, or dhekia, near a forest in Nagabari village on Saturday at 3 pm. He was with a nine-year-old friend when the animal lunged from the brush. The younger boy escaped the mauling by climbing a tree.

The leopard tore into Pulak, causing severe facial and ear trauma. The animal eventually retreated into the woods. The boy who witnessed the attack climbed down and summoned help from villagers. Locals rushed to the scene to rescue the wounded child. He went to a primary health centre first, but doctors later referred him to the Assam Medical College and Hospital for specialized care.

Forest officials arrived shortly after to launch a search. They performed blank firing to drive the beast back into the wild. Residents of Nagabari live in fear. They worry the cat remains in nearby dense vegetation. Frequent trips into the woods for food have caused a spike in dangerous run-ins with wildlife. One local resident noted the incident has sparked concern among residents of Nagabari and neighbouring areas, with locals fearing that the leopard may still be hiding in the dense vegetation close to the settlement.