Darjeeling: 52-year-old grandmother fought off a leopard to save her grandson and pet dog; battled for an hour before the leopard fled
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In Devkota village, located in the Lower Bhutia area, 52-year-old Devika Sherpa single-handedly confronted a leopard to save the lives of her eight-year-old grandson and her pet dog. Devika had returned home after performing evening prayers around 6 PM. After dinner, she sensed some commotion outside the house. As she stepped out, her young grandson followed close behind. Devika was horrified by what she saw: a ferocious leopard had already attacked her pet dog.
Devika Confronts the Leopard
At that moment, Devika faced a choice: retreat in fear or confront death itself to save her family. Without wasting a moment, she attacked the leopard. She battled the beast for nearly an hour. Although she sustained severe injuries to her head and hands during the struggle, she refused to give up. Devika says her greatest fear was that the leopard might harm her grandson; this thought gave her the strength to keep fighting. Eventually, villagers arrived, alerted by the commotion, and the leopard fled the scene.
Devika Hospitalized
Devika sustained significant injuries in the leopard attack. Her family immediately admitted her to the Darjeeling District Hospital. She underwent surgery on her hand, and steel plates were inserted. Despite the pain and injuries, she finds satisfaction in knowing she saved the lives of her grandson and her pet. Devika Sherpa’s bravery is now the talk of the entire area.
Forest Department Officials Arrive
People cannot stop praising her for her courage. Locals say that what Devika did is not something everyone could achieve. They note that this is not the first time a leopard has snatched livestock or pets from the area. Meanwhile, Forest Department officials arrived at the village immediately after the incident. According to Forest Department sources, the leopard has become very aggressive following the incident, making it difficult to capture for the time being.
