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From Leopard Attacks on Kids to Cruel Killing of Animals, Man-Animal Conflict in Himachal on Rise, But Issue Remains Unattended
Shimla-The Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh Government has been failing to attend to one of its essential duties; protecting humans from animals and vice-versa. Two very recent cases are sufficient to support the fact that the government needs to wake up and attend to the rapidly rising man-animal conflict.
During the last three months, two children aged 5-6-year-old became prey to leopard attacks in the urban areas of Shimla district (in the periphery of Shimla city).
In the most recent case, a 5-year-old was taken away by a leopard from his front yard in the Downdale area of the city on the eve of Diwali. Surprisingly, most animals tend to remain away from the residential areas, especially in an urban setting on Diwali due to the burning of firecrackers.
Previously, a 6-year-old girl was preyed upon by a leopard. She was also taken away from right outside the make-shift cabins of migrant labourers in Kanlog. The forest department had assured that cages were set up to capture the leopard.
Now, the people suspect it could be the same leopard as the sites of these two attacks appear to be within the territory of a single leopard. Also, a leopard spotting was reported in nearby Phagali a couple of days ago.
If it is, then the animal would have to be declared a man-eater. That implies that either the department would have to capture it or take it down. The situation speaks of the twofold loss – the loss of human life and the life of an animal. The rise of this conflict would ultimately lead to the killing of animals in order to save human lives and ensure their safety.
Search team during the search operation for the missing kid
However, the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department didn’t show much concern after the first attack and worked on no concrete strategy to eliminate further encounters between humans and animals. Even after the second incident, which has created an uproar among the people against the alleged inactiveness of the department.
A report in a Hindi Daily said the forest department doesn’t have an appropriate caging system to capture leopards. Same cages, which the department uses to capture monkeys, are being set up to capture this leopard. The report suggested that the department isn’t even prepared to efficiently capture monkeys.
It was one side of the conflict, where two kids lost their life in leopard attacks leaving the parents in unimaginable pain.
In the second instance, a leopard died a cruel death because of the unscientific, as well as, illegal traps of various kinds laid for unlawful hunting, especially in rural areas. The animal’s rear legs were clutched between the jaws of a lethal trap, similar to a steel-jaw trap. The animal struggled and suffered for two days to get out of it and was found dead on the third day. This incident was reported from Thathal village, Amb, Una district.
Video Posted by A Local
Here, the locals alleged that the department was given information regarding an injured leopard after spotting it on a roadside on Saturday evening. A team of the forest department allegedly arrived at the spot without any preparation to catch and rescue the animal. As per locals, the team went away saying it would rescue it in the morning. However, the poor animal kept dragging itself with maimed and bleeding limbs for three days before some locals spotted its dead body. As per the locals, the dead animal was found just 50-100 meters away from the spot where it was first spotted on Saturday evening.
The forest department, however, says that it failed to capture the injured animal in three days, especially when it was in the same area. The department says it had begun the search and rescue operation on Saturday evening. But the locals alleged that the animal could have been saved if the department had acted swiftly.
Here the forest department not only failed to ensure the timely rescue of the animal but also failed to curb the bloody trend of laying illegal, cruel traps by hunters and locals.
Moreover, this is not an isolated instance of animals dying or being injured by such lethal traps. In a separate incident, last Sunday, in the Shahtalai area of the Bilaspur district, a cow lost its jaw after swallowing an explosive while grazing. The cow was left in pain with its mouth torn to pieces.
Inured Cow
Here the animal fell victim to a type of trap made of explosives for illegal hunting. The department is well aware that the laying of such traps for illegal hunting by locals and poachers is common in some areas. However, it doesn’t seem to be willing to curb this evil practice where animals are exposed to killing with excruciating suffering.
Unfortunately, the forest department of the state government doesn’t enjoy a good reputation when it comes to allegations of corruption. It remains in controversies, the biggest of which was the Hoshiyar Singh case wherein a forest guard was found dead in a forest under mysterious circumstances. The case wasn’t investigated properly by the police and was then handed over to the CID but to no avail.
Also Read: Bilaspur-Planted Explosive Blows Off Cow’s Jaw
The Department should better prepare a plan and execute it to reduce man-animal conflict. In Shimla, the people demand that areas adjoining the forests should be fenced to prohibit entry of wild animals into residential areas, to provide sufficient street lighting, and swiftness in capturing animals when repeatedly seen in proximity to residential areas.
Solan—In a shocking incident on Monday, an 18-year-old youth, Pravesh, survived a vicious leopard attack in Sarli village of Arki subdivision. The teenager reportedly fought the leopard for nearly 12 minutes before breaking its jaw, killing the animal on the spot.
Quick Thinking Saved His Life
Pravesh told the media that he was walking from the fields to a nearby shop in the morning to fetch milk when the leopard, hidden in the crops, lunged at him. Noticing the leopard’s tail, he attempted to run but fell after a short distance. During the attack, he covered his neck with his hands to protect himself from fatal bites.
The teenager continued to struggle with the leopard, repeatedly attempting to put distance between himself and the predator. In a desperate move, he grabbed the leopard by its mouth, twisted its jaw, and broke it, killing the animal instantly. Pravesh sustained multiple injuries, including deep claw marks, and is currently receiving treatment at Arki Hospital. Police and forest department teams have launched an investigation into the incident.
Serious Allegations of HP Forest Department’s Negligence
One of Pravesh’s relatives accused the forest department of negligence, noting that similar attacks had occurred in the area previously.
Earlier, a leopard had attempted to attack a scooter rider, who managed to escape. The family said they had informed the forest department on March 6 about potential danger, but no concrete action was taken. Villagers waited for three hours for a forest team to arrive, but none came. When the Block Officer eventually visited, he reportedly told villagers to ensure their own safety. Requests for cages to capture the leopard were also denied, with officials asking for written complaints instead.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Himachal Pradesh over the next two weeks, with isolated heavy to very heavy showers likely over the low hills, plains, and adjoining mid-hill regions. While the ongoing monsoon remains vital for agriculture, it also brings an elevated risk of localized flooding and landslides.
Week of August 8–14
Maximum temperatures will range from 22°C to 34°C, depending on elevation—22°C to 28°C in high hills, 26°C to 30°C in mid-hills, and up to 34°C in lower regions. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain near normal, between 12°C and 24°C. Cooler conditions may persist in districts like Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
Week of August 15–21
Similar rainfall patterns are expected to continue, with scattered heavy rain episodes. Temperature trends will remain stable, though slightly below-normal maximum temperatures are likely in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu districts.
Outlook for Late August
Rainfall is expected to remain broadly normal, with region-specific variations. Districts such as Kinnaur, Shimla, and Sirmaur may see below-normal precipitation, while Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Solan are likely to receive above-average rainfall. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to stay close to seasonal norms.
Officials at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla have urged residents and local authorities to remain alert for sudden heavy downpours, which could disrupt road connectivity and trigger landslides—especially along vulnerable hillside routes. Past monsoon episodes have blocked key highways, including routes between Mandi and Kullu and near Banjar, underscoring the ongoing challenges in the region.
This advisory comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face the dual pressures of sustaining its agriculture-dependent economy while managing the life and infrastructure risks posed by an active monsoon. Continued vigilance and preparedness remain crucial.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –Himachal Pradesh continues to deal with the impacts of the 2025 monsoon season, reporting extensive property damage, loss of lives, and widespread disruptions across the state. According to the official reports from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the Department of Revenue, and the India Meteorological Department, from June 20 to August 6, 2025, heavy monsoon rains caused significant damage across multiple districts:
- Casualties: 199 deaths due to landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning, electrocution, and accidents; 304 injuries reported.
- Property Loss: Extensive damage to houses (both pucca and kaccha), shops, factories, labor sheds, animal shelters, and substantial crop losses in agriculture and horticulture.
- Public Infrastructure: Over ₹1,900 crore in damages to roads (including PWD), power supply, health, education, fisheries, rural and urban development, and animal husbandry.
Most affected districts include Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur, with severe crop and infrastructure losses.
Additionally, 91 deaths occurred due to monsoon-related road accidents.
Public Utilities and Infrastructure Disruptions
The SEOC report dated August 7, 2025, highlights ongoing disruptions:
- Roads Blocked: About 493 major roads and 3 national highways (NH-305, NH-21, NH-05) remain blocked by landslides and floods.
- Power Supply: Disruption of 1,120 distribution transformers (DTRs).
- Water Supply: 245 water schemes affected, threatening access to potable water for communities.
Key blockages include NH-21 between Mandi and Kullu and NH-305 near Banjar and Jhed.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The India Meteorological Department’s forecast valid from August 7, 2025, includes:
- Isolated heavy rainfall expected throughout the week.
- Thunderstorms and lightning predicted in isolated areas.
- Minimum temperatures near normal or slightly below.
- Maximum temperatures showing a moderate increase.
The public is urged to remain vigilant due to the risks of further landslides and flash floods.
Himachal Pradesh remains vulnerable as the monsoon season continues, with thousands affected by damage, displacement, and disruption of essential services. Authorities are continuing with rescue and recovery operations and are urging residents to stay alert to the ongoing adverse weather. This situation highlights the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure and disaster management strategies to mitigate monsoon-related risks.
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Weather Forecast for Himachal Pradesh For the Next Two Weeks
Monsoon 2025: Himachal Pradesh Suffers 199 Casualties, Over ₹1,905.50 Cr in Damages
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