Hyderabad: Leopard spotted on the Runway of Shamshabad airport
Shamshabad: A leopard has created panic at the Rajiv Gandhi International (RGI) Airport in Shamshabad in the early hours on Monday. The patrolling staff, who spotted the leopard on the runway of the Shamshabad airport, soon alerted the airport authorities. The airport authorities in turn informed the Telangana Forest officials, who now sprung into action.
According to the sources, it is yet to be established where the leopard might have disappeared from the sight and forest officials are trying to trap the big cat.
Speaking to the Hyderabad Mail, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Shivaiah said that they are still investigating the whereabouts of the leapord with the help of CCTV footage that are available in the nearby areas, including the airport authorities.
Leopard might have been nearby since night
“We are also checking the CCTV footage and understood that it came to a nearby water hole near the airport last night, which was recorded in the CCTV. We are also checking others and also setting up new CC cameras to track its movement. We are also putting our efforts to trap the leopard. We will provide further information soon,” said the DFO to the Hyderabad Mail.
It is also being speculated that the leopard might have also been in the surroundings of the airport from last night as it appeared in one of the CCTV footage taken during the night time. Efforts are underway to catch the leopard.
The airport authorities have also alerted the air passengers and all the safety measures are being taken place inorder to avoid any untowards incident.
This is not the first time that such an incident took place in Shamshabad area. According to the reports, in 2021 as well, a leopard was spotted in between the Shamshabad and Tukkuda area. After locals spotted the leopard, they informed the police. The CCTV footage of the leopard sighting near this area also went viral back then.
CM Revanth Reddy reorganizes disaster management for Greater Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign critical responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department within Greater Hyderabad. He has directed officials to implement structural changes and redistribute responsibilities accordingly. In a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday evening, the Chief Minister discussed the reorganization with officials from Municipal Administration, HMDA, and Musi Development.
Expansion of disaster management responsibilities
Recognizing the geographic expansion of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered the Disaster Management Department to extend its jurisdiction to the Outer Ring Road. He suggested including GHMC, 27 surrounding municipalities and corporations, and 33 gram panchayats within its service area. The department will be renamed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection (HYDRA). The Chief Minister proposed appointing a DIG-level officer as the director and SP-level officers as additional directors. He also recommended special teams from GHMC, HMDA, the Water Board, city traffic, and other departments to join this new division.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Disaster Management Department to offer continuous services to city residents, not just during floods or emergencies. HYDRA should actively address all issues faced by Hyderabad’s citizens, including preserving the city’s tanks and ponds, protecting government properties from encroachments, and managing hoardings and flex banners. Additionally, HYDRA will oversee water pipelines, electricity supply lines, drainage, flood management, and traffic control.
Focus on heritage and infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Reddy directed the acceleration of the Musi River Development Project, aiming to elevate Hyderabad’s international reputation. He stressed the importance of working towards the government’s goal of transforming this project into a landmark. He also ordered officials to take necessary actions to restore historical buildings and structures within the city. The GHMC presented a PowerPoint on various heritage sites, such as the City Library, Charminar Ayurvedic Hospital, and Nizamia Observatory etc. The Chief Minister encouraged exploring ways to develop these sites for tourism and integrating feasible ones into the Musi River Development Project.
The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Shantikumar to draft a comprehensive reorganization plan, including staffing, duties, and budget allocations for HYDRA. He also emphasized identifying key areas where the Disaster Management Department can enhance its operations.
The meeting included Chief Secretary Shantikumar, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Danakishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC Vigilance Disaster Management Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, and Hyderabad Water Board MD Ashok Reddy.
