The Maharashtra government has decided to alter school timings, set up more rescue centres, and even explore granting permission to some to kill leopards declared as man-eaters. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, along with Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and senior bureaucrats, had a detailed meeting to find a solution to the issue of the rising number of leopard attacks in the state, especially in the sugarcane belt.

Schools in areas that see leopard attacks will operate from 9.30 am to 4 pm. Ajit Pawar said, “Leopards usually move around at night. A change in school timings will ensure that students travel and move in daylight. This will help minimise leopard encounters.” In the past two months, over a dozen people have been attacked by leopards, causing fear and anger among people.