A tiger has been spotted in a village near Lucknow, creating panic among local residents, with authorities setting up cages to trap the big cat.
The forest department has appealed to local residents against venturing alone at night as the big cat has been spotted in and around Rehman Khera village, located about 20 km from Lucknow, after sunset.
After locals sportted pugmarks over the past two-three days, a team of the forest department and the Wildlife Trust of India reached the spot and launched a search operation for the tiger.
On the basis of the pugmarks, officials confirmed that it was an adult tiger.
As per the information, the tiger has attacked two nilgais in the past few days.
Search and combing operations are being carried out in the area. Also, authorities are keeping an eye on the movement and activities of theanimal with the help of thermal drones and 12 trap cameras.
Cages have also been put up to capture the tiger. Schools in the area have been closed until further orders.
Many people have also claimed to have seen the tiger while working in the fields during the daytime. One tiger was seen in the fields and a roar was also heard by people early on Tuesday morning, they said.
The forest department and the Wildlife Trust of India teams have intensified the search for the animal and efforts to capture it alive are underway, officials added.
