[ABC.NET.AU] A leopard has sparked panic in a north Indian city after straying inside a hospital, a cinema and an apartment block while evading captors.Authorities closed schools and colleges in Meerut, 60 kilometres north-east of the Indian capital, after the leopard was discovered prowling the city's streets on Sunday.
"Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to track the leopard down," said additional district magistrate SK Dubey.
"We have launched a massive hunt for the beast."
Mr Dubey says the cat was found inside an empty ward of an army hospital on Sunday before wildlife officers were called and managed to fire a tranquiliser dart into it.
"But despite that he managed to break (out through) the iron grilles and escaped," he said.
"He then sneaked into the premises of a cinema hall before entering an apartment block. After that we lost track of the cat."