Image Source: Indian Express
A Friday evening tragedy occurred in Dahiwadi village, Shirur, Maharashtra, when Yash Gaikwad, a student in the fifth grade, was found dead and covered in injuries at a farm in the Devmala region. The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked investigations amid suspicions from family members and villagers that he may have been attacked by a leopard.
Yash had ventured out from home in the afternoon but failed to return, prompting his relatives to launch a search. Given the frequent sightings of leopards in the vicinity, concerns were raised, prompting villagers to notify the forest department. Forest ranger Pratap Jagtap led a team to the scene, where they found Yash unconscious on a sugarcane farm. Despite efforts to save him, he tragically succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at the hospital.
Initial investigations, however, have not conclusively identified signs of an animal attack. Forest authorities have taken proactive measures by deploying six trap cages, installing trap cameras, and utilizing drones to monitor leopard movements in the area. Simultaneously, local police have initiated their own inquiry, registering the incident as a case of accidental death at the Shikrapur police station. Police Inspector Deepratan Gaikwad confirmed that they are awaiting the results of the post-mortem examination to shed further light on the circumstances leading to Yash’s untimely demise.
The community remains in mourning as they await official findings, grappling with the tragic loss of a young life amidst concerns over wildlife encounters in their rural surroundings.
