Darjeeling, July 2: A 60-year-old grandmother survived a terrifying hour-long struggle against a ferocious leopard inside her residence in Devkota village, Lower Bhutia Basti, using only a wooden stick to protect her young granddaughter. Devika Sherpa sustained severe injuries to her head and body during the encounter but successfully fought off the predator until it weakened and retreated. The victim is currently undergoing medical treatment at Maharaja Agrasen Hospital following the miraculous escape in the hills of Darjeeling.
The conflict began when the wild animal unexpectedly breached the house, directly targeting a pet dog and Sherpa’s five-year-old granddaughter who was downstairs. Sherpa, who was on the upper floor, rushed down and found herself trapped face-to-face with the lunging predator.
“Death felt certain, so I chose to fight. My granddaughter was downstairs — I had to protect her,” Sherpa asserted from her hospital bed. She declared that retreating was not an option, as any hesitation would have resulted in her death, forcing her to repeatedly strike the animal with a nearby stick until both she and the leopard were completely exhausted.
The harrowing incident has sparked widespread anger among local residents regarding the persistent danger posed by wildlife entering human settlements. Sherpa expressed deep frustration with the Forest Department’s handling of the ongoing safety crisis in the region.
“They roam here like stray dogs. I lost my entire goat farm to them. We’ve complained many times, but nothing has changed,” she maintained. She further affirmed that while citizens face immediate legal action for harming wildlife, communities receive virtually no protection when wild animals attack vulnerable people.
Forest Department officials visited the residential site following the attack and confirmed that the leopard is currently hiding in a nearby rocky hollow. Authorities stated that the animal remains highly agitated, making immediate capture attempts extremely risky for the neighborhood. They declared that a structured rescue operation will commence only when conditions are deemed safe enough to prevent further injuries.
