LUCKNOW: A wedding celebration in the Para area of Lucknow took a dramatic turn when a leopard strayed into the venue, causing panic among the guests. After a tense 200-minute-long rescue operation, a team from the Lucknow forest department, assisted by two veterinary doctors from Kanpur, successfully tranquilized and captured the big cat.
The bride, groom, and their families were swiftly evacuated by the police, and the wedding rituals resumed only after the leopard was safely removed. Guests erupted in joy, cheering and praising the swift action of the police and forest officials.
Divisional forest officer (DFO) Sitanshu Pandey told TOI that the rescued leopard, a healthy male weighing 80–90 kg, may have strayed from the Kheri region. “With the chief warden’s permission, it will be relocated and released in a safer area,” he said.
The rescue involved two veterinary doctors, four tranquilizer experts, and ten forest guards. “We fired two tranquilizer darts, trapped the animal using a net, and secured it in a cage,” Pandey explained.
Leopard attacks forest guard
The rescue wasn’t without risk. Around 11:40 pm, upon receiving an SOS from UP 112, the forest department rushed to the scene. Officers cautiously entered the wedding hall, searching for the animal.
On reaching the second floor, they found the leopard hiding behind broken furniture. As forest guard Muqaddar Ali approached, the animal suddenly lunged, slashing his right hand. Despite the injury, Ali managed to retreat, while his colleagues contained the situation and fired a tranquilizer dart.
“It all happened in a split second. The leopard was completely silent. The moment it felt threatened, it attacked,” said an official. Ali was given first aid and later taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Panic at the wedding
According to DCP (West Zone) Vishwajeet Srivastava, the wedding was of Akshay Srivastava and Jyoti Kumari. The joyous occasion took a terrifying turn when the leopard entered from behind a tent.
“At first, guests thought it was a prank or a stray dog. But when the big cat moved toward the crowd, panic set in. A stampede-like situation ensued as guests rushed toward the exits,” he said.
In the chaos, two cameramen were injured after being knocked down. Startled by the commotion, the leopard leaped onto the rooftop of the wedding hall, making the rescue even more challenging.
Ultimately, the coordinated efforts of the forest department, police, and the veterinary team ensured a safe capture with no further injuries. The leopard will now be relocated to a safer habitat.