Khaira: At least four persons including a woman sustained grievous injuries Saturday forenoon as a leopard attacked them in separate incidents at different places under Khaira block in Balasore district. Locals have become scared following the murderous attacks.

The woman was identified as Satyabhama Nayak (50), wife of Gananath Nayak from Gada village.

According to a source, the first victim Satyabhama was attacked at around 12.00 Noon at Gada village near Khaira Bazaar. She was critically injured in the leopard attack. The injured woman was rescued and admitted to a community health centre (CHC) in Khaira for treatment. Satyabhama was later shifted to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Bhadrak after her condition deteriorated.

“Satyabhama was working in a farmland located at the backside of her house along with her husband and son when she was attacked by the leopard. Her husband and son came to her rescue after hearing her scream for help and the leopard ran away,” the woman’s husband expressed.

In an attacking spree, the leopard entered the village and attacked the three others. Some villagers attempted to drive away the leopard but the animal hid somewhere and has not been traced.

The other three injured were also rushed to hospitals and are undergoing treatment.

On being informed, a team of forest personnel from Kupari with the help of some locals launched a search operation, which was underway till the time when this report was filed.