A 10-year-old boy, who suffered significant facial injuries from a leopard attack in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, including damage to his left eyelid, is now anticipated to retain his vision in that eye after undergoing reconstructive surgery.
The family of the child had been concerned about the possibility of permanent blindness. However, medical professionals at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow performed a complex surgery on Thursday evening and expressed optimism regarding the preservation of his eyesight.
The victim, identified as Raju Babu, was injured during a leopard attack on the morning of April 7 in Rajapur village, located near the reserve forest in the Motipur range of Katerniaghat. While playing outside his home around 10 a.m., he was attacked by a leopard that emerged from the nearby forest.
Other children playing with him fled in fear and raised an alarm. Villagers working in nearby fields, alerted by the noise and cries of the child, rushed to the scene, causing the leopard to flee and leaving the boy with serious injuries.
Initially, Raju was taken to a local community health center and subsequently referred to the district hospital, where doctors treated several injuries, including those to his head and left eye. He was then transferred to a specialized medical facility in Lucknow for further treatment.
Apoorva Dixit, the Divisional Forest Officer for Katerniaghat, quickly collaborated with the KGMU medical team to ensure that the boy received prompt medical attention. The Forest Department also assigned a forest guard, Abhishek Singh, to stay with the family and assist in facilitating the boy’s treatment in Lucknow.
Professor Vijay Kumar, head of the plastic surgery department, stated, “The procedure was intricate, with the main objective being to save the child’s eye. We reconstructed the eyelid in three stages—first addressing the conjunctiva, then the septum, and finally the skin. Without this reconstruction, there was a considerable risk of eye damage, potentially leaving the cornea exposed. The surgery was successful,” he explained.
Sangeeta Devi, the boy’s mother, expressed her relief, stating, “Before arriving in Lucknow, we were terrified that our son would never see out of his injured eye again. Villagers told us he would likely only have vision in one eye, which was very distressing. But after receiving assurances from forest officials, we felt hopeful that he would receive the necessary treatment to restore his vision.”
Along with her husband, Kamla Prasad, a farmer, Devi has remained by her son’s side during his recovery in Lucknow. Raju is the second of their four children.
When reached for comment, Dixit confirmed that the department had exerted every effort to assist the child and his family in their quest to preserve his vision.
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