Amid continuing efforts by
forest personnel to trap a leopard which killed two persons in Thimbam forest area in the district, some passengers of a bus have claimed to have sighted the man-eater.
The passengers travelling in a state-owned transport corporation bus bound for Sathyamangalam noticed the leopard lying near Thimbam forest check post last night and informed police and forest officials at nearby Bannari, police said.
Forest officials have stepped up efforts to capture the leopard and cautioned people, especially vehicle drivers, to be alert and not to get down on the ghat road during night hours.
A van driver was mauled to death by a leopard at the 28th hairpin bend on the Thimbam ghat road two months ago and a forest guard met with similar end near the checkpost last week.
Following the incidents, forest personnel have placed cages in four different places in the locality to trap the leopard.
