(Web Desk) – A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in Pandu Nalai, a village in the Jhelum Valley district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, where an 8-year-old girl lost her life in a leopard attack on July 25, 2025.
The young girl, Javeria, a second-grade student, was playing in the courtyard of her home near the Line of Control (LoC) when a leopard suddenly emerged from nearby bushes and attacked her.
According to local authorities and eyewitnesses, the leopard swiftly grabbed the child and disappeared into the dense vegetation before anyone could respond.
A desperate search was launched by family members and villagers. After several hours, Javeria’s body was tragically found half a kilometer away, concealed in thick shrubbery.
This incident has caused immense grief in the community and brought renewed attention to the rising human-wildlife conflict in AJK. Local reports indicate that due to food shortages in the forests, wild animals—especially leopards—are venturing into human settlements more frequently.
Residents of the Jhelum Valley, known for its proximity to rugged mountains and dense forests, say this is not the first such occurrence and are now living in growing fear.
Local authorities have urged people to remain vigilant, particularly during dawn and dusk when leopard activity is known to increase. Wildlife and forest officials have also been asked to investigate and enhance protection measures for vulnerable areas.
Javeria’s untimely death has left her family and the entire village in mourning, as they demand swift action from authorities to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.