Varanasi: A leopard on the loose in Chaubepur area of district has attacked and injured two more people near Kamakhya Nagar in the past 24 hours even as forest department officials were making all efforts to nab the big cat at the earliest.So far, the feline has attacked three people.District forest officer Swati Srivastava said: "Expert from Lucknow, Varanasi and Chandauli regions have set up cages in three locations and laid traps in more than half a dozen places. The team from Lucknow has brought tranquilizer guns and nets. There has been no activity of the leopard since Friday night, so it is not clear where it is hiding in the area or escaped." She said the leopard was spotted by a drone camera on Friday.According to locals, the leopard remained hidden in the bushes under a neem tree in an orchard near Kamakhya Nagar Colony from 9:00am to 4:50pm, but despite all efforts, the forest department team failed to capture it. Around 4:50pm, it emerged from the thicket, jumped over the safety perimeter, and escaped into a nearby settlement. Those injured in the attack-- Amit Maurya, Anil Rajbhar and Jaidev Rajbhar—are being treated in a government hospital.

"People have been advised not to venture out of their houses unnecessarily. The forest department team is searching for the leopard," she added. Following the attack, frightened locals have been keeping vigils with sticks and nets in hand.