Leopard leaps on Dhuliajan OIL employee on bike, injures victim’s leg

Dibrugarh: An employee of Oil India Limited (OIL) sustained serious injuries after being attacked by a leopard near Madhuting Tea Estate in Duliajan, Dibrugarh district.

The victim, 33-year-old Gaurav Hazarika, who works in OIL’s drilling department, was returning home on his motorcycle on Wednesday evening when the big cat pounced on him.


The attack occurred around 6 pm as Hazarika was riding through the road adjacent to Madhuting Tea Estate after completing his duty shift. The leopard suddenly leapt at him from the roadside, catching him completely off guard.

“I was returning home from duty when the leopard suddenly leapt from the left side and attacked me,” Hazarika recounted from his hospital bed at OIL Hospital in Duliajan, where he is currently recovering.

The leopard inflicted deep bite wounds on Hazarika’s lower leg, tearing through his trousers with its powerful jaws. The force of the attack caused both the motorcycle and rider to fall to the ground. In a stroke of fortune, the loud noise from the fallen motorcycle’s engine apparently startled the leopard, causing it to release its grip on the victim. Confused by the commotion, the big cat immediately fled the scene and disappeared into the nearby tea garden.

Locals quickly rushed to Hazarika’s aid and transported him to the hospital. Medical staff treated his injuries, administering 12 stitches to close the deep lacerations on his leg, which bore clear teeth marks from the leopard’s bite.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about human-leopard conflict in the region, particularly in areas bordering tea estates and forest patches. Duliajan and surrounding areas have witnessed several leopard sightings in recent months, with the big cats occasionally venturing into human habitation in search of prey. Tea estates, with their dense vegetation, often serve as corridors for these animals moving between forest patches.

Authorities have been alerted about the incident, and forest department officials visited the site. Residents in the area have been advised to exercise caution, particularly during early morning and evening hours when leopards are most active.