Leopard dies after being hit by vehicle on National Highway in Punjab

JALANDHAR: A leopard, which strayed from the wild and reached the National Highway near Goraya, died after a vehicle hit it. It is learnt that the leopard was first seen on the main carriageway and later was found lying on the slab of a rainwater drain along the service lane of the NH, near the All India Radio transmission centre.Wild Life Range Officer Jaswant Singh said that around 9 am, Forest Guard Malkiat Singh, based in Phillaur, got information that a leopard was lying injured along the NH and was gasping for breath. While they were rushing to the place, 10 minutes later they received information that it died.“The leopard was apparently hit by a vehicle and got a head injury. It was bleeding internally. We found its nails and teeth intact,” he said. It was taken to the veterinary hospital in Goraya for the post-mortem.Asked how it could have strayed into the area so far from the wild, Jaswant said that it might have come from the wild along the Satluj river and then strayed further.