A tragic incident unfolded when a mother of three fell victim to a fatal crocodile attack. Her partially consumed remains were discovered along a riverbank a day after the horrifying event.
The attack occurred in the morning of September 19th while the woman was engaged in fishing activities. Eyewitnesses reported that locals attempted to rescue her upon witnessing the attack but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
Santanu Kumar Dalei, a forest range officer from Mahakalapada, recounted the sudden emergence of the crocodile that swiftly dragged the woman into the water before she could react. The victim, identified as Laxmi Dalei, was attacked in the Gobari River near the Bhitarkanika National Park within the Mahakalapada forest range in Odisha, India.
Bhitarkanika, an extensive saltwater swamp spanning approximately 404 miles across the Brahmani River and Baitarani River deltas in Odisha, is home to a significant population of saltwater crocodiles, totaling 1,826 individuals, as reported by The Times of India.
Local authorities emphasized the importance of avoiding water bodies inhabited by crocodiles for public safety. Range officer Santuru highlighted that while crocodiles generally pose no threat if people stay out of the water, their safety cannot be guaranteed if they enter crocodile-inhabited areas.
The unfortunate incident adds to a recent case where an 80-year-old grandfather, Wasim, was fatally attacked by a crocodile while bathing in a river near his residence in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, on June 30. The crocodile then paraded the victim’s body in front of shocked onlookers.
After a villager discovered Wasim’s clothes on the riverbank and raised an alarm, a search ensued, leading to the sighting of the crocodile dragging the elderly man. Villagers intervened, striking the crocodile with sticks until it released the victim’s lifeless body.
Wasim’s son-in-law, Samugi, expressed disbelief over the tragic turn of events, stating that the day had begun like any other before the unforeseen tragedy struck. The incidents serve as sobering reminders of the potential dangers posed by wildlife encounters in crocodile-inhabited areas.