Pune | A leopard roaming in a residential area on the outskirts of Pune city in Maharashtra was captured on Monday morning after it was tranquilised during a three-hour operation which involved personnel of police, forest personnel and others, an official said.

The feline was spotted in Ahiregaon in Warje Malwadi and other adjoining areas, which caused panic.

A joint team of Forest department officials, city police, and RESQ conducted the operation to capture the spotted big cat, an official said.

"Initially, the team cast a net to capture the leopard but the big cat ran away from the spot. Officials later tranquilised the animal and caught it alive," the Forest department official said.

A huge crowd gathered at the spot to catch a glimpse of the big cat, but fortunately, nobody was injured.