Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) | A 14-year-old boy died following an attack by a large cat, described by villagers as a leopard, while he was cutting fodder for his cattle along the Sharda river in Ramnagar Kalan, officials said on Tuesday. The incident took place on Monday evening while Sandip Kumar, a resident of Ramnagar Kala village under Bhira police limits, was injured by the animal and rushed to the neighbouring Bijua community health centre, where he died during treatment.

Kirti Chaudhary, the Deputy Director of the Dudhwa buffer zone, said that the attack took place within the Gola range of the South Kheri forest division.

Tapas Mihir, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), South Kheri, confirmed the boy's death and described the incident as both tragic and unfortunate.

He stated that compensation would be provided according to regulations following the postmortem, and also mentioned that patrolling and monitoring in the area would be intensified.

Officials from the Bhira police station responded promptly, transporting the body to the Bijua community health centre for a postmortem examination.

According to a range officer of the Dudhwa buffer zone, the site of the attack is located just three to four kilometres from the reserved forests, making it common for leopards and tigers to be in the area.

The proximity of the Sharda river, along with stretches of tall grass and cane fields, creates an ideal habitat for these big cats.

Forest officials have advised villagers to be vigilant regarding the presence of big cats and other wildlife, recommending that they avoid moving alone along the river or in the fields, especially at dusk or during the night.

They urged residents to work in groups and create loud noises to deter wild animals