A wild leopard sparked off panic in Meerut when the big cat strayed into a crowded locality and later took refuge in a hospital, forcing the authorities to call for a shutdown in the city on Monday.
The city wore a deserted look as army personnel cordoned off the area after the leopard entered the Meerut Cantonment Hospital, creating panic among patients and hospital staff.
Reportedly, the caretaker of the hospital, spotted the leopard while it was entering the male ward.
All the schools, colleges and markets remained closed as the wildlife experts launched the search operation.
A resident of Meerut, Suresh, said that the big cat had instilled fear among the people.
"There is so much fear of the leopard that the administration has ordered to close schools. We are also thinking what to do and what not to do. We are waiting for the administration to inform us whether to open the market or not," he said.
