The forest department has launched a search operation after receiving information that a leopard was allegedly hit by an unidentified vehicle near the Gokuldham area in Goregaon East late on Saturday night. The animal is believed to have fled into bushes adjoining the Aarey Milk Colony following the incident.

According to the Thane Forest Department (Territorial), it received information from a caller from Gokuldham on Sunday about the incident. The caller reportedly said that a vehicle, believed to be an autorickshaw, had accidentally collided with the leopard while it was crossing the road near a school. The vehicle allegedly overturned following the impact, while the leopard ran towards the bushes in Aarey Milk Colony.