Tense moments prevailed at the Panchayat Union Primary School at Nallakathu Estate in Valparai on Wednesday after students of the school spotted a leopard near the wired fence on the school premises, in the afternoon. It is learnt that the school has 80 students, including 34 children of labourers from Madhya Pradesh.
Head Master of the school R. Ranjith Kumar said that eight students who were near the fence behind the school.
Some of them were washing their plates after lunch, and others had just stepped out of the toilet.
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They spotted the animal atop the metal wired fence that is close to 7ft high.
Hearing them scream, Mr. Ranjith Kumar, and other teachers rushed to the spot, and saw the animal disappear into the bushes.
Officials of the education and forest departments were immediately informed.
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He said that leopards were spotted during the late hours of the day during earlier occasions. Four forest guards have been posted near the school.
Ranger of Manampalli Range K. Arivoli said that the egg shells dumped near the compound wall could have attracted the animal.
Later, the shells were removed from the place. Persons concerned were asked to dump the shells at garbage bins.
Estate staff have started cleaning the bushes and weeds around the school.