Bhubaneswar: Panic gripped villagers in Machhagarh village in the Patna forest range of Keonjhar district after leopard pugmarks were reportedly spotted near the Patna Range-Karanjia border.

According to local resident Sarda Prasad Satpathy, “At around 8.30 pm on Sunday, I saw a large leopard moving across the area. We immediately informed the forest department and the police, who arrived promptly and launched a search operation.”

Rakesh Swain, a forest official from the Salipur range in Cuttack, said, “We received the information at around 10:30 pm. Four teams reached the site for night patrolling. Though pugmarks were found, we cannot confirm whether they belong to a leopard or some other animal. Samples have been sent to higher authorities, and awareness drives are underway for villa

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