AP: People worried over leopard prowling Mahanandi

Devasthanam authorities are alerting devotees over microphones to be alert. Locals say that the leopard has been roaming around the temple area for the past three days.

On Monday afternoon, it is said the leopard took away a dog from the premises of Nityannadana Satram of Mahanandi Devasthanam. It appeared again on Monday night near the Old Vivekananda School in Parvathipuram.

Locals say the leopard has been hunting pigs and dogs in the bushes around the electricity substation at night. Recently, the leopard had hunted a pig in the same area.

The scare has spread so much that people are afraid of moving around the town during night time.

Forest range officer Dinesh Reddy has advised people to be vigilant. Forest beat officer Pratap, along with staff, collected footprints of the leopard on Sunday after reports that it has been prowling the electric substation area in Mahanandi on Saturday night.