Residents of a posh gated housing society in Ahmedabad’s Ghuma area are living in fear after a leopard was spotted on CCTV cameras early Monday morning. Although the animal disappeared from the society within minutes and has not been seen again, its presence has led residents to change their daily routines and take extra precautions.
The leopard was spotted around 2 am on Monday at Serendeep Mansions on VIP Road in Ghuma, located in the southwestern part of Ahmedabad. According to the CCTV footage, the animal climbed over the boundary wall of the residential society and moved through the premises.
Leopard Leaves Society Within Seven Minutes
The leopard reportedly stayed inside the housing society for only about seven minutes. It later crossed the road and entered a vacant plot opposite the society.
The plot is covered with thick babool (Prosopis juliflora) trees, making it difficult for forest officials to locate the animal.
Following the sighting, forest officials launched a search operation in and around the area. A Wildlife Rescue Van was stationed on VIP Road, while forest department teams were seen searching the vacant plot and nearby areas.
Media vehicles were also present outside the society as residents remained alert about the possibility of the leopard returning.
Residents Stop Morning Walks, Pet Outings
The leopard sighting has had a major impact on the daily lives of residents.
Following advice from the forest department, residents have stopped going out alone, especially after sunset. Morning walks have also been suspended, while people have stopped taking their pets outside for walks.
Children have also been advised not to play in the clubhouse garden, while senior citizens are avoiding stepping outside after dark.
Gaurang Shah, president of the society’s Resident Welfare Association (RWA), said residents had been instructed to avoid going out after sunset. If they need to travel, they have been advised to use their cars instead of walking.
He said residents, particularly children and senior citizens, are staying indoors after dark due to concerns about the leopard.
Security Guards Now Patrol in Groups
The leopard sighting has also changed the way security personnel patrol the society at night.
One of the security guards said the leopard crossed the society’s garden just a minute after he had passed through the same area during his patrol.
While night patrols are continuing, security guards are now moving in groups of three to four instead of patrolling alone. They are also carrying sticks and other items for self-defence.
Forest Department Deploys Four Teams
The forest department has intensified its search for the leopard.
Range Forest Officer (RFO) Haresh Desai said four teams were currently involved in the search operation. Four cages have also been placed at different locations, while another cage has been kept ready as a spare.
Officials are using the last confirmed movement of the leopard as a starting point for their search. However, they have not yet received any fresh evidence, such as clear CCTV footage or pugmarks, confirming the animal’s current location.
Desai said the search would continue until officials receive reliable information confirming that the leopard has left the area.
Several Leopard Sightings Turn Out to Be False Alarms
While residents remain cautious, forest officials have also received several reports from people claiming to have spotted the leopard.
However, officials said many of these reports turned out to be false alarms. In some cases, people reportedly mistook dogs for the leopard.
For now, the forest department continues to monitor the area and search for the animal, while residents of Serendeep Mansions remain on alert.
Ghuma’s Rapid Development Raises Concern
Serendeep Mansions has 105 individual bungalows, with properties ranging from around 350 square yards to 1,500 square yards.
The society is located in Ghuma, a rapidly developing residential area in southwestern Ahmedabad. The locality is also close to Sanand, which has emerged as an important automobile and semiconductor hub in Gujarat.
While the leopard’s exact location remains unknown, the forest department’s teams are continuing their search. Until the animal is either rescued or confirmed to have moved away from the area, residents are being urged to remain cautious and follow safety instructions.
Also Read: 16 Months, 3 Blasts, 32 Deaths: How Illegal Firecracker Factories Kept Operating In Gujarat https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-firecracker-factory-blasts-repeat-offenders-safety-failures/
