Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of ₹20 lakh for the family of a 10-year-old boy who was killed in a leopard attack in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills region of Chamarajanagar district.
The victim, identified as Harshit Gowda, a resident of Vrishabhavati Nagar in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru, was trekking with his family on the Nagamale route on Sunday morning when the incident occurred near Indiganath.
According to officials, the leopard suddenly attacked the boy and dragged him into the forest in front of his family members, triggering panic in the area.
Forest department personnel later launched a search operation and recovered the child’s body from the forest.
Officials said an initial compensation cheque of ₹5 lakh has already been handed over to the family, while the remaining amount will be directly transferred to their bank account.
Meanwhile, the leopard’s movement has reportedly been captured through a thermal drone camera. The forest department has intensified efforts to capture the animal by installing four cages in the region, with more than 30 personnel engaged in the operation.
As a safety measure, authorities have temporarily banned the movement of devotees on the Nagamale trekking route.
