Pune: Leopard Attacks Three Two-Wheeler Riders Near Sinhagad Fort; Woman Injured

Pune, 14th October 2026: A leopard allegedly attacked three two-wheeler riders within about an hour near the Bapuji Buwa Temple on the Khanapur–Ranjane–Pabe road, within the limits of Ghera Sinhagad village, west of Sinhagad Fort, on Tuesday evening (October 13). A young woman sustained an injury after being struck by the leopard’s paw and is undergoing treatment at Sassoon General Hospital in Pune.

According to former Panchayat Samiti member Nitin Wagh, the incidents took place on a road that passes through a forested stretch with a hillside slope. Local residents reported three separate encounters with the leopard over a period of approximately one hour.

The first incident occurred around 6.30 pm when Om Shinde and Tushar Kamble, residents of Ambegaon Budruk, were travelling by motorcycle from Khamgaon towards Khanapur. The leopard reportedly struck the motorcycle’s wheel, causing the vehicle to wobble, but the riders did not fall. The animal then made a noise and moved down the hillside.

In the second incident, Dhondiba Thopate of Thoptewadi was travelling from Khanapur towards Thoptewadi with his daughter Sonali and her friend when the leopard reportedly lunged at their motorcycle. Sonali was struck by the animal’s paw and sustained an injury. She was initially taken to the primary health centre in Khanapur before being shifted to Sassoon General Hospital for further treatment.

In the third incident, a young man from Kondgaon was riding towards his village when the leopard chased him for approximately 15 to 20 feet before he managed to move away.

Following reports of the incidents, forest department officials from the Bhamburda area were dispatched to the spot, said Dattatraya Jorkar, a member of the Ghera Sinhagad Forest Protection Committee.

Further details about the forest department’s response and any measures planned to prevent similar incidents were awaited.