Leopard pugmarks trigger panic in Prakasam village

NELLORE: Tension gripped Ganjivaripalli village in Nallamala forest within Yarragondapalem mandal of Prakasam district after locals spotted pugmarks of a leopard in a farm located a kilometre away from the village.

Villagers are already in panic as a tiger had attacked a cattle grazer four days ago at Guttalachenu near Palutlagudem of Yarragondapalem mandal. Ganjivaripalli village is part of the same forest range in Nallamala region.

According to locals, the farm where pugmarks of leopard had been found belongs to Bondalapati Venkateswarlu of the same village. He planted papaya plants in his farm and irrigated them two days ago. He alerted sarpanch Subba Reddy on finding the pugmarks when he went to the farm on Sunday morning.

Forest officials rushed to the spot at the instance of sarpanch and confirmed that they are of a leopard. The information is causing worry among the farmers, who frequent their lands abutting the forest area.

Suspecting that animals are coming to habitations because of water scarcity in the forest, they urged forest officials to take necessary steps to quench the thirst of animals within the forest.