Leopard attack claims life of 3-year-old boy in Handwara

Srinagar, Sept 18: A 3-year-old boy lost his life due to a leopard attack on Monday morning In Handwara area of Kupwara district.
The young victim, Burhan Ahmad, son of Mohammad Kamal Mir from Marchwali Nichhama, was attacked by a leopard right outside his home.
The terrifying incident unfolded in the early hours of the day. When people nearby heard the commotion, they rushed to the scene and hurried the injured boy to a nearby hospital. However, the doctors on duty declared him dead.
The tragic incident has stirred up anger within the local residents, who have pointed fingers at the wildlife department for not taking adequate steps to capture the wild animal that posed a danger to their neighborhood. They expressed their frustration, highlighting that this is the second such incident in the area in recent times.
An official from the wildlife department spoke to Rising Kashmir and admitted that there is only one rescue van available for the entire north Kashmir. “Managing the needs of all three districts without enough equipment has become a challenging task. Furthermore, there is a severe shortage of staff in the department, with fewer than 100 employees responsible for these two districts. This lack of resources makes it difficult for them to effectively address such situations.”
The local residents have demanded that authorities take immediate and effective measures to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future. They stressed the need for additional rescue vans, especially in each sub-division, to enhance wildlife management and ensure the safety of their community.