Lucknow, Oct 17 (IANS): A leopard mauled a mother-daughter duo after straying from the Katarniaghat forest reserve in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district, officials said Monday.
Rajwati (45) and Lakshmi (12) were grievously injured when the leopard attacked them late Sunday while they were sleeping outside their house in Rajaram Tanda village.
Rajwati and Lakshmi are being treated at a hospital where their condition is stated to be critical.
"Officials have been instructed to drive the leopard back to the forest area," Divisional Forest Officer R.K. Singh said in Bahraich, some 140 km from Lucknow. "The leopard seems to be hiding in sugarcane fields."
According to officials, the pug marks of the feline found in the village indicate it is a sub-adult.
Katarniaghat forest reserve is home to over 30 leopards.