Pune: Student dies in second fatal leopard attack in Shirur taluka in 40 days

PUNE: A 19-year-old student died after she was attacked by a leopard at Jambut village in Shirur taluka, about 75km from the city, on Wednesday.
Pooja Narode had gone to relieve herself when she was attacked by a leopard and dragged inside a sugar cane farm. Her mother, who was nearby, raised an alarm.
On hearing a commotion, nearby locals reached the spot and attempted to chase the animal away. The leopard left Narode in the farm and disappeared. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Fear and panic prevailed among villagers as this was the second fatal leopard attack in the last 40 days. Shirur range forest officials have doubled their efforts to trace and cage the animal. "We increased the number of cages to 18 across the area on Thursday," an official said.
The Shirur police, too, have stepped up night patrolling in the area.