VIDEO: Leopard storms liquor store, attacks workers before dramatic five-hour rescue

A terrifying ordeal unfolded in India's Tonk district when a leopard stormed into a newly opened liquor store.

In footage seen by TNX Africa, the leopard bursts into the shop and attacks an employee, who manages to escape.

According to Indian media, the animal had strayed from a nearby forest into the busy main market before entering the shop.

It reportedly mauled a forest volunteer, Rakesh Saini, near a checkpoint, leaving him with leg injuries.

Authorities said the leopard had been roaming the area between Todaraisingh and Bisalpur for several days, with frequent sightings near surrounding hills and temples.

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The chaos escalated when the leopard slipped unnoticed into the liquor store while a salesman was counting cash. CCTV footage shows the animal suddenly turning aggressive, leaping from a table to pounce on the salesman before charging at a second employee in another section of the shop.

The leopard then hid beneath shelves stocked with liquor bottles. Despite sustaining injuries, the two employees managed to flee and pull down the heavy metal shutter, trapping the animal inside.

The injured salesman was taken to a hospital in Tonk for further treatment, while the second employee received first aid at a local health facility.

A large crowd soon gathered outside the store, prompting police to cordon off the area and keep onlookers at a safe distance.

Teams from the Tonk Forest Department, assisted by veterinarians from Jaipur Zoo, launched a rescue operation. After about five hours, the leopard was safely tranquilised and captured, bringing the dramatic standoff to an end.

The incident comes months after a rogue elephant terrorised parts of Jharkhand, India, killing 22 people in just 10 days.

The attacks began on New Year's Day in Chaibasa district before spreading to neighbouring communities.

Among those killed was a wildlife expert sent to help restrain the elephant. In one of the deadliest incidents, four family members were trampled to death while sleeping.

Videos shared on social media also showed terrified residents fleeing as the elephant chased people through villages.

Authorities struggled to contain the animal despite repeated attempts to track, net and tranquilise it.

During one operation, responders drove the elephant into a neighbouring state, only for officials there to push it back across the border.

Residents were urged to remain indoors, avoid forest edges and exercise extreme caution while wildlife teams continued efforts to capture the elephant.