A leopard was spotted on Thursday morning in Maruti Suzuki’s plant in Manesar following which police and forest officials cordoned off the premises. The leopard was found roaming inside the ‘Engine Department’ by a security personnel on duty.
According to the forest officials, the big cat was first spotted in the factory at around 3.30 am by a security guard named Dharambir Singh who raised an alarm.
More than 500 people, including workers, guards and transporters, were inside when the leopard entered the premises. Fearing an attack by the big cat, the management halted production on Thursday morning and the premises were evacuated by 3.45 am.
Around 2,000 workers had gathered outside the complex waiting for their shift to begin. Production suffered in the plant as the morning shift starting at 6.30 am was suspended. According to sources in Maruti, the B shift that starts at 3.15 pm was also be suspended on Thursday.
Hundreds of cops reached the plant and cordon off the area. Officials from the forest department rushed to the factory to rescue the animal after being informed at 5.30 am.
The leopard was most recently spotted near the engine room of the factory.
Gurugram circle Wildlife Conservator, Vinod Kumar said, “A seven-member team is on the job. They are equipped with a tranquilliser to control the animal down and rescue it. leopard entered in the engine room in the plant. We have sealed the area. A rescue operation is underway.
“There are thousands of types of machinery installed on 2 metre-high elevated platforms the leopard might hide under one of them. It is quite difficult to rescue the leopard during the day. It is expected to come out at night.”
Team member of the forest department keeps a vigil eye on entry and exit points of the plant at night so that they can make sure the leopard has vacated the plant.
Meanwhile, police said efforts were on to catch the animal. “We are trying to locate his position with the help of CCTV cameras,” said Station House officer, IMT Manesar, Narender Kumar.
The plant is spread over 750 acres and is one of the biggest Maruti Suzuki plants that manufacture a range of vehicles such as Swift, Swift Desire and Ertiga.