The management of Ordnance Factory (OF) Ambazari has alerted its employees to be careful as a leopard was seen while going from gate no: 2 to Post Office in the estate premises on Friday morning. Sensation has prevailed among the OF employees and nearby residents as the news reached to them.
Dipak Lamba, Works Manager of the Ordnance Factory, said that DSC and security personnel along with the teams of Forest Department were searching the wild animal. He asked the workers not to move alone in the premises or go/enter at the gate. Moreover, the employees should remain cautious and do not provocate the carnivore, if seen, he pointed out.
When contacted Ashish Ninawe, Range Forest Officer, Hingna, informed The Live Nagar that the watchman on the factory tower sighted leopard-like animal on the road outside while crossing it. Upon getting information at 6 am, he deployed U B Bhamkar, Round Officer, Hingna, and staff members to undertake foot patrolling as well by vehicle in order to locate the carnivore. The staff installed five camera traps at the strategic points, he added.
Forest Department formed two teams of forestmen to undertake search operation in the OF premises and nearby outside bushy areas. One team will be patrolling there during night time, Ninawe added.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the leopard must have come to OF from Gorewada through the fragmented corridor. One leopard was sighted in Ambazari and settled there temporarily after coming from Gorewada via Dabha some time ago. Another leopard was also seen in the sprawling premises of Vayusena Nagar in the recent past. Moreover, a leopard was also said to be seen in IT Park before Vayu Sena Nagar incident. Sources pointed out that eight leopards were moving outside the Gorewada zoo project and there was every chance of their straying towards city areas.
