The leopard scare in Bengaluru seems to have intensified as 129 schools have been asked to declare a holiday on Thursday.
Seventy-six private schools and 53 government schools in Varthur, Nallurahalli, Doddakanelli , Marathahalli, east Bengaluru have been closed. However, the holiday does not apply for school staff.
This step was taken after a leopard was allegedly spotted by a few locals on Tuesday night.
On Sunday, a leopard was caught in Vibgyor International School in Varthur after a 12-hour rescue operation that left three injured. Vibyor had also declared a holiday on Wednesday.
This step was taken despite confirmation from the top officials on Wednesday that there was no leopard in Varthur area, where rescue operations have been on since Tuesday night.
SM Ramesh, Block Education Officer (South 4) said that they announced a holiday for schools in the areas they were asked to by the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (Bengaluru south).
No leopard was seen or traced in and around the school by our forest staff after a night-long search operation though the school remains shut as a precaution.Ravi Ralph, Prinicipal Chief Conservator of Forest and Wildlife Ward, Karnataka
We cannot take chances with small children and there are so many schools in the area. We will not be able to focus on rescue operation if we are worried about the children.SM Ramesh, Block Education Officer
Asked how long the schools will be kept closed, he said, “I am not sure. But there is still a fear that that the leopard is around as people believe they come in pairs, and the other one could still be around.”
However, the decision seems to have been taken without informing the public instruction head.
I had not received any communication about this until Wednesday. It may not be correct as we have not permitted any such order. From the local area, if there is any demand in case of emergencies, then public instruction can send out an order. They may have acted like that.K A Sathyamurthy, Commissioner of Public Instruction
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