Leopard spotted at Pune airport, 500 metres from runway, 800 metres from new passenger terminal
Flight operations were not impacted on Monday, sources from the airport said. In another video of the leopard posted on X by a flyer around 9pm on Monday, a plane can be seen nearby.
You Can Also Check:
Pune AQI
|
Weather in Pune
|
Bank Holidays in Pune
|
Public Holidays in Pune
Forest department officials TOI spoke to confirmed they were tracking a leopard at the airport. "It was spotted in the morning around 7am on Monday and later in the day around 8pm. In the evening, it was spotted roughly 500 metres from the runway and 700-800 metres from the new terminal building. We are now searching for it on the airport's airside. We have set up camera traps. We hope to capture it on Tuesday," said Suresh Varak, range forest officer,
Pune Forest Division
.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Power your home with our best selling solar panels
SaverSuns
Undo
The leopard sighting came on the same day the Pune airport advisory committee had a meeting to discuss presence of wild animals in the airport area. During the meeting, it's learnt that officials from the Indian Air Force, which jointly operates Pune airport, urged authorities to take action. The advisory committee meeting was chaired by MoS Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and was attended by IAF, CISF and other key officials.
Mohol told TOI: "During the meeting, there was a talk about the leopard sighting. I will be talking to Pune Airport director and other authorities to find out more."
Pune airport's runway and ATC are managed by the IAF, which also has a squadron of Sukhoi fighter aircraft stationed there.
There was no comment from Pune airport director. IAF authorities had not responded to queries TOI sent via email till the time of going to press.
People who live near the airport said they've now alerted all their neighbours to lock their doors and exercise caution. One resident of a housing society in Vimannagar said the leopard was seen inside the Air Force Station campus a few days ago. On Monday, it was seen again, the resident said.
The video posted on the citizens' group, in fact, was taken from inside the Air Force Station campus. It showed the big cat, lit by spotlights, leaping over the barbed wire of the boundary wall.
A retired IAF officer who lives in a housing society near the airport said the Air Force school inside the campus has been given a holiday on Tuesday. He said the exact reason for the announcement was not mentioned in the holiday notice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kerala rerun? UK F-35 jet makes emergency landing in Japan; Chinese, Russian media have field day
UK F-35 jet makes emergency landing in Japan (Picture credit: X) A British F-35B stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing on Sunday at Kagoshima Airport in south-western Japan due to a malfunction, airport officials told Kyodo News. As per news agency ANI, the incident occurred at around 11:30 am (local time), briefly closing the runway for about 20 minutes and delaying several commercial flights. No injuries were reported. The malfunction happened while British forces were taking part in a joint drill with Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force and the US military, which began on 4 August and is set to run until Tuesday. The UK has dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the western Pacific as part of the exercise, Kyodo reported. Japanese broadcaster NHK cited the defence ministry as saying the jet was operating from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The carrier, on a major Indo-Pacific deployment since April, has visited ports in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Australia. This is the second such mishap in less than two months. On 14 June, another UK F-35B from HMS Prince of Wales made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala after a hydraulic fault. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn 57+ Languages Easily with AI [Join] Talkpal AI Sign Up Undo That aircraft remained grounded for more than five weeks before repairs were completed, with the British High Commission publicly thanking Indian authorities for their assistance. The latest incident has been seized upon by Chinese and Russian state media. Russia's Sputnik India account on X posted, 'British F-35 makes emergency landing... Again. Just weeks after one F-35 was stranded in India, another was forced into an emergency landing at Japan's Kagoshima Airport. Collecting emergency landings like souvenirs'. China's state-run Global Times went further, suggesting that the malfunctions 'underscored the F-35B's overly complex systems and highly demanding maintainability', something UK sailors 'could be struggling to deal with in far seas deployments.' The Beijing-run outlet, citing Chinese expert Wang Ya'nan, remarked that the F-35B is the most technically complex variant of the F-35 family and poses 'significant maintenance challenges,' especially during prolonged carrier operations far from home. It noted that HMS Prince of Wales, on what UK media described as a 'major deployment' since April, has been plagued by 'technical issues' despite aiming to demonstrate Britain's fast-jet capability at sea. The paper reminded readers that the jet stranded in India for over five weeks became 'a subject of jokes and memes,' raising questions over 'how such a modern aircraft could remain stuck in a foreign country for so long. ' In a pointed swipe, Global Times claimed the UK's carrier deployments were 'following the US' global strategy' and dependent on 'US-made equipment,' adding that Britain's naval operational capabilities 'are no longer what they once were' and that the recent malfunctions should prompt London to 'reconsider its policy of accommodating US interests.' According to Birmingham Live, the Japanese emergency involved a different aircraft than the one stranded in India. The Kagoshima jet is now under inspection, guarded by RAF personnel, and is expected to rejoin the Carrier Strike Group once cleared. F-35Bs, built by Lockheed Martin, are prized for their stealth capabilities and short take-off/vertical landing performance, but their sophistication also makes them maintenance-intensive. HMS Prince of Wales is expected to dock at Yokosuka on Tuesday before heading to Tokyo later this month.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
After over two decades, DDA's Vikas Minar secures fire safety clearance
New Delhi: After decades of delays and repeated denials, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has finally secured a fire no-objection certificate (NOC) for its central office, Vikas Minar, for a period of three years. In a letter dated Aug 6, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) informed DDA that the premises are now fit for business occupancy, subject to compliance with safety conditions. This marks the first successful clearance since 2001. Every subsequent inspection over the years had highlighted deficiencies, preventing the renewal of the certificate. The most recent denial came in April 2025, when DFS highlighted to DDA that the issues flagged in 2022 had still not been resolved. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "It is certified that Vikas Minar DDA building in ITO—comprising a basement, ground, and 22 upper floors—was earlier granted NOC by the department in Jan 2001. Now, the premises were re-inspected by the officers concerned of this department on July 23 in the presence of fire consultants and executive engineers. It was found that the said building is deemed to have complied with the fire prevention and fire safety requirements in accordance with Rule 33 of the Delhi Fire Services Rules, 2010, and the premises are fit for business occupancy with effect from Aug 6 for a period of three years, in accordance with Rule 36," stated the NoC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Woman sells ring given by ex, then jeweler tells her 'This can't be true' Daily Sport X Undo However, DFS clarified that the certificate is conditional. "Any loss of life or property due to non-functional fire safety measures shall be the responsibility of the management, and any deviation in the construction shall be verified by the concerned building sanctioning authority," the department noted. Constructed in 1976, Vikas Minar, was the first building in Delhi to exceed the height of Qutab Minar. The multi-storey building houses offices of various departments of DDA. During the June 2022 inspection, DFS reported serious shortcomings—unsealed electrical shafts, non-functional detectors on some floors and insufficient sprinkler coverage. Staircases and lift lobbies were also found encroached with dumped furniture and storage. The department communicated these shortcomings to the then commissioner-cum-secretary of the DDA. Despite being the primary organisation responsible for housing development in the city, DDA was unable to obtain the necessary certification for its own premises, which receives numerous visitors daily, claimed locals earlier. Notably, on July 7, DDA's headquarters at south Delhi's INA Colony also received a fire NOC after six years. The clearance, valid for three years, came with conditions such as clearing basement encroachments within three months or risking revocation. The NOC applies to blocks A, B, and D of the premises — with A, D, and part of B comprising ground plus three floors, and the remaining part of Block B rising to seven floors. The premises share a common basement. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Retd Group Captain DK Parulkar, who led daring escape from Pakistani prisoner of war camp in 1971, passes away
Synopsis Retired Group Captain DK Parulkar, a decorated Indian Air Force officer, has passed away. He was known for his bravery during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak conflicts, particularly his daring escape from a Pakistani POW camp during the latter. Parulkar's leadership and courage earned him the Vayu Sena Medal and the Vishisht Sena Medal, solidifying his legacy within the IAF. War veteran Group Captain Dilip Parulkar (retired), a 1971 India-Pakistan prisoner of war, has passed away, said the Indian Air Force in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT Wing Commander Dilip Kamalkar Parulkar was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in March 1963. Ever since, he has held various appointments like the Flying Instructor at Air Force Academy and has been on deputation to Singapore for two years. Presently, he is serving a ground tenure as Battalion Commander at National Defence Academy. All about Retired Group Captain DK Parulkar During Indo-Pak conflict in 1965, his aircraft was hit by enemy fire and had injured his right shoulder. Despite the advise from his leader to eject he flew the crippled aircraft back to base, for which he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal During 1971 Indo-Pak War, Wg Cdr DK Parulkar while a Prisoner of War in Pakistan displayed initiative, pride in his nation and in the Indian Air Force of an exceptional degree. He was the leader of an escape attempt in which he along with two colleagues escaped from the POW Camp. This attempt carried out in the face of a hostile, treacherous and unpredictable enemy required relentless hard work, determination and valour which was in the highest tradition of the IAF. This act compelled the enemy to respect the calibre of the IAF not only in the air but on the ground also, as well as our great nation. For dedicated and distinguished service of a very high order the President is pleased to award VISHISHT SENA MEDAL to Wing Commander Dilip Kamalkar Parulkar. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) DK ParulkarIndian Air ForceVISHISHT SENA MEDALPrisoner of War (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. NEXT STORY
