Schools shut in Pauri’s Kolakhal after leopard kills 4yo girl

Dehradun: After a leopard dragged away and killed a four-year-old girl in Pauri’s Kolakhal area on Thursday night, authorities ordered the closure of all schools in the region until Monday amid rising fear among residents.Drishti was in the kitchen with her father and older sister when the leopard entered the house and dragged her away, officials said. Locals raised an alarm and alerted authorities, but her body was found late at night, about 2.5 km from her house.The incident has intensified anger among villagers, who claimed that, despite multiple attacks in recent weeks, authorities failed to take concrete steps to ensure safety. Officials said six human-wildlife conflict deaths have been reported in the region over the past five months.With permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, the leopard has been declared a man-eater.“We have deployed department shooters, and three cages have been placed in the area to capture the animal. Patrolling has intensified, and villagers are being urged to take necessary precautions. I spoke to the girl’s father in the morning, and she was dragged from her kitchen in the middle of the house in the village,” said divisional forest officer Mahatim Yadav.Fearing further attacks, authorities shut schools across Kolakhal panchayat.Block education officer Manoj Kumar Joshi said, “in the areas under Nyaya Panchayat Kolakhal, all schools from Classes 1 to 12 will remain closed on Saturday and Monday due to fear of a man-eater leopard and to ensure students’ safety.”Officials added that the closure may be extended if the animal is not captured soon.