Deaf and mute 19yo attacked by leopard in Pithoragarh

Pithoragarh: A 19-year-old deaf and mute woman was attacked by a leopard on Saturday in Kuchgad, about 25km from Pithoragarh town. She had stepped outside her home for routine work when the big cat, hiding in nearby bushes, lunged at her, local forest ranger Dinesh Joshi said.Sunuta Waldia sustained injuries to her face and arms, and was admitted to district hospital where doctors described her condition as stable. Forest department has started installing cameras and cages to capture the leopard. This is the third incident in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts in the past two weeks.Residents have expressed concern over the increasing frequency of leopard sightings and urged authorities to take additional safety measures. Joshi said, "Patrolling in the area will be intensified and villagers, particularly children and the elderly, have been asked to avoid stepping outside at night."