Five-year-old girl killed in leopard attack in Pune's Shirur

Forest officials install a trap cage and camera traps in Shirur to capture the leopard

A five-year-old girl was killed after a leopard attacked and dragged her away while she was sleeping outside a cowshed in Pune district's Shirur taluka in the early hours of July 22.

The deceased, Bhagyashree Sandeep Ware, was originally from Karodi village in Ahilyanagar district. Her family had been staying at Pimpalsuti village in Shirur taluka, where they worked as labourers.

According to Shirur police, the attack took place around 2.40 am. Bhagyashree was sleeping with her family outside the cowshed of their employer, Machhindra Bhosale, when the leopard entered the premises and carried her away.

Her uncle, Babasaheb Kondiba Ware, 36, who was sleeping nearby, woke up after hearing a noise and saw the leopard carrying the child. The family raised an alarm and chased the animal, but it disappeared into a nearby sugarcane field.

Fatal attack

The cowshed outside which the five-year-old was sleeping with her family. Pics/By Special Arrangement

The incident was reported to the forest department, following which officials launched a search operation. Bhagyashree was found with severe injuries in the sugarcane field and rushed to the Rural Hospital at Nhavare, where doctors declared her dead before treatment. According to forest department officials, around 14 fatal leopard attacks have been reported in the region over the past decade.

Probe on

Police have registered an accidental death report under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The forest department has launched an investigation and intensified efforts to capture the leopard. Authorities have urged residents to remain alert, avoid sleeping in the open, and immediately report any leopard sightings to the forest department.

Official Speak

Smita Kulkarni, forest range officer
"We have installed 13 camera traps and a trap cage in the area to capture the leopard. The attack occurred at midnight. The leopard had inflicted severe injuries to the girl's throat and one of her hands."