Jajpur: A 57-year-old woman went missing after being dragged into the Kharasrota river by a crocodile in Kantia village under the Binjharpur police station limits of Odisha’s Jajpur district on Monday afternoon, police said.
Crocodile drags woman during bath
The victim, identified as Soudamini Mahala, was bathing in the river around 4 p.m. when the reptile suddenly attacked her. Eyewitnesses said the crocodile grabbed her and pulled her into the deep waters before anyone could react. Villagers present on the riverbank tried to chase the animal with sticks and stones but failed to rescue her.
A video of the horrifying incident, reportedly recorded by a bystander, went viral on social media soon after, showing the crocodile dragging the woman downstream.
Search operation launched
Following the incident, fire brigade personnel and a police team rushed to the spot and began a search operation. Divers and local volunteers were also pressed into service to trace the missing woman, officials said.
A senior officer from Binjharpur police station confirmed that the search operation continued late into the evening and was expected to resume on Tuesday morning. “Our teams are scanning the river stretch, but strong currents and poor visibility are making the task difficult,” the officer said.
Eyewitnesses recount horror
Residents of Kantia village were left shocked by the rare attack. “As we noticed that the crocodile was dragging the woman into the river, we jumped in to rescue her, but all our efforts went in vain,” said Naba Kishore Mahala, an eyewitness.
Local villagers said crocodile sightings in the Kharasrota river had become more frequent in recent years, especially during the monsoon and post-monsoon months. They alleged that no warning boards or safety measures had been installed despite previous complaints to the authorities.
Officials caution villagers
Forest officials said the incident may have occurred because the crocodile strayed into the river from nearby water bodies following recent floods. “We have already alerted people living near the riverbanks to avoid bathing or washing clothes in the river. Efforts are on to locate and capture the crocodile,” an official from the Forest Department said.
The Odisha Fire Services Department has deployed rescue teams equipped with boats and nets to trace the woman’s body. As of Tuesday evening, there was no confirmation of recovery.
Rising cases of crocodile attacks
Odisha has witnessed several human-crocodile conflict incidents in recent years, particularly in the river systems of Kendrapara, Bhitarkanika, and Jajpur. Wildlife experts attribute the increase in such encounters to habitat encroachment and the rise in crocodile population in the region’s rivers.
Authorities have urged villagers to stay cautious and avoid venturing into rivers during high water levels. Awareness drives are expected to be conducted in vulnerable areas in the coming days.
Conclusion
As rescue operations continue, Soudamini Mahala’s family and villagers await news anxiously. The incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter safety measures and greater vigilance along rivers known to harbour crocodiles.