Surat: A four-year-old girl died during treatment at a govt hospital in Valsad on Thursday after suffering severe injuries in a leopard attack in Dang district.The victim, Riya Salkar, a resident of Daher village in Subir taluka, was attacked on the night of Jan 26 while she was near her home with her grandmother, Shanti, officials said.
The leopard reportedly dragged the child towards a forested patch. After the grandmother raised an alarm, villagers rushed to the spot and launched a search. The animal fled on hearing the commotion, leaving the girl behind.Riya was first taken to a hospital in Ahwa for preliminary treatment and later shifted to the Valsad civil hospital, where she succumbed to injuries to her neck and other parts of the body.Forest officials said six cages have been placed in and around the village to capture the leopard.The incident comes weeks after a similar attack in Dang. On Dec 23, a seven-year-old boy, Ritek Ghulum, was mauled to death in the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary near Mahal village when he had gone with his grandmother to graze cattle. The leopard reportedly emerged from bushes and attacked the boy, escaping after locals intervened, officials said.
