Sexagenarian Dragged Away By Crocodile In Odisha’s Kendrapada; 3rd Attack In 11 Days

Kendrapada: An elderly man was allegedly dragged into Brahmani river by a crocodile at Ghagaradia village in Odisha’s Kendrapada district on Thursday morning.

According to sources, the incident took place when Gangadhar Tarai, a sexagenarian, had gone to the river for his morning ablutions. He was dragged away by the crocodile when on the banks of the river. An rescue operation is on by Fire Service personnel and locals to trace him.

This is third such incident in the last 11 days in the district. A 45-year-old woman was killed by a crocodile on June 21 while washing utensils in a pond at Hatigadi village under Chandibousamula Gram Panchayat while a 10-year-old boy was mauled to death on June 14 at Nimapur village, around Bhitarkanika National Park.

The district has so far seen 8 fatal crocodile attacks near Bhitarkanika in the last 13 months.

Authorities have advised locals not to venture near the river as crocodiles are usual furious during this time, which is their nesting season.

The Forest department has erected barricades at around 80 river ghats around Bhitarkanika in Aul, Rajkanika and Pattamundai blocks to prevent the crocodiles from attacking human beings. Awareness camps are also being organised at many crocodile–infested riverside villages to caution people against taking bath in the rivers within the barricades.