Bhubaneswar: Fear swept through Lanka village in Ganjam’s Digapahandi area after a viral social media video appeared to show a leopard perched atop Sunakhala hill under Samantiapalli forest range.
Local residents shared the clip widely, raising serious safety concerns amid the sighting in a nearby hilly terrain. The footage triggered widespread fear, with villagers worried about potential threats to livestock and people venturing into surrounding areas.
In response, a forest team from the Samantiyapalli section promptly arrived in the village to investigate. Officials are scrutinizing the video’s authenticity and working to confirm whether the animal is indeed a leopard or possibly another wild species common in the region.
Forest officials have appealed to residents to avoid hasty assumptions and remain vigilant. They advised people to steer clear of forested and hilly zones until the matter is fully clarified.
