India, Jan. 22 -- A late-night leopard sighting in Joshewadi village of Shirur taluka triggered a tense overnight operation by the Forest Department, which lasted nearly seven hours in a densely populated residential area with narrow lanes and closely packed houses.

The sighting was reported around 11.30 pm near a house in Joshewadi, following which the Shirur Forest Division immediately mobilised multiple teams. Officials said the biggest challenge was the locality's layout, crowded habitation, poor visibility and tight bylanes, making it extremely difficult to locate, track or tranquillise the animal without risking human safety.

Despite these constraints, forest personnel conducted a coordinated ground search through the night, close...