Bhubaneswar: A crocodile was spotted roaming near railway tracks close to a village in Redhakhol area of Odisha’s Sambalpur district, triggering panic among local residents.
According to information, the crocodile was spotted by a local resident near Patakhaman village in Redhakhol block of the district on Monday night when he was returning from farmland.
A train was approaching from the Redhakhol side at the time and the crocodile, around seven to eight feet long, moved into the nearby forest, he said.
The villagers subsequently informed Forest Department officials, following which a team visited the spot and launched a search operation to locate and rescue the reptile.
The circumstances in which the reptile reached the area near the village and railway track remain unclear.
The sighting has raised concerns among local residents, particularly over the safety of people travelling along the road and those visiting nearby agricultural fields.
Residents have been advised to maintain a safe distance from the area and refrain from approaching, surrounding or attempting to capture the crocodile.
