Leopard killed after being hit by unidentified vehicle on Dhule–Solapur highway

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A leopard was killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle near the Khokri river bridge in the fields of Galleborgaon in Khuldabad tehsil on the Dhule–Solapur highway. The incident occurred at around 5.30 am on Friday.

According to information received, the leopard was crossing the Solapur–Dhule highway when a speeding unidentified vehicle struck it with great force. The impact was so severe that the animal was critically injured and thrown to the roadside, resulting in its death on the spot. The driver of the vehicle fled after the accident. In the morning, Dilip Bedwal and Prakash Jhalte, who were passing through the route, noticed the leopard’s carcass and immediately informed the Khuldabad forest department. Following this, range forest officer Nikhil Deshmukh, forester S. R. More, forest guards Mayur Chaudhary and Purushottam, forest staff Baban Sonawane, forest labourer Baban Masur, and Nana Awate rushed to the spot and conducted a panchnama (spot inspection report). Khuldabad livestock development officer Dr Utkarsh Wankhede and Dr Dodke conducted the post-mortem examination of the leopard at the site. Later, the animal was cremated as per official protocol. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against the unidentified vehicle owner in connection with the incident.