Kendrapada: A 46-year-old woman is feared dead after a saltwater crocodile attacked and dragged her into the flood-swollen Brahmani river in Kendrapada district on Monday morning, officials said.The victim, identified as Suchitra Das of Damodarapatana village under Pattamundai block, was taking a bath in the river around 7.30 am, when the reptile suddenly emerged from the water, clamped its jaws around her and pulled her into the deep waters before anyone could rescue her. Suchitra worked as a cook at Alapua High School.Villagers rushed to the spot after hearing her cries for help and tried to rescue her, but their efforts failed. “The crocodile suddenly leapt out of the water and dragged Suchitra into the river. We raised an alarm and tried to save her, but she disappeared within moments,” said eyewitness Binodini Behera. Another eyewitness, Manasi Jena, said the crocodile surfaced without warning, leaving onlookers helpless.Rajnagar forest range Officer Chitaranjan Beura said a joint search operation by fire services and forest department was underway to trace the missing woman. He added that the forest department would provide ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the victim’s family after due inquiry.The incident is the latest in a series of human-crocodile conflicts in the region. On July 28, a 52-year-old man from Risipur village in Jajpur district was killed by a crocodile while bathing in Kharasrota river. Officials said estuarine crocodiles have claimed six human lives in the past 17 months, 16 over the last three years and 32 in the past 51 months in and around Bhitarkanika National Park.Bhitarkanika National Park, one of India’s largest mangrove ecosystems, is home to around 1,858 saltwater crocodiles, according to this year’s reptile census. Forest officials said recent floods have swollen major rivers, allowing crocodiles to stray beyond the park’s boundaries into nearby villages.To reduce the risk of attacks, the forest department has erected protective barricades at several river ghats and intensified public awareness campaigns through posters, pamphlets and loudspeaker announcements. Residents have been advised to bathe only within barricaded areas and avoid entering rivers during the monsoon. “Crocodiles generally do not pose a threat if people stay out of the water. However, once people enter their habitat, their safety cannot be guaranteed,” the forest officer said.
Saltwater crocodile drags woman into Brahmani river in Kendrapada | Bhubaneswar News
