KENDRAPARA: A 55-year-old man was killed by a crocodile while washing his feet in Bramahani river near Diniari village near Bhitarkanika National Park here on Wednesday evening.
The deceased was identified as Bijaya Patra of Diniari. The incident happened at around 7.30 pm when Bijaya had gone to wash himself in the river. “A crocodile suddenly exploded out of the knee-deep water and dragged him into the river,” said Saroj Adhikari, an eyewitness.
Though some villagers raised alarm and tried to save Bijaya, the reptile killed him. On Thursday afternoon, his half-eaten body was found on the river bank near Diniari, said Ashok Patra, a villager.
Divisional Forest Officer of Bhitarkanika Bimal Prasanna Acharya said, “The Forest department will provide a compensation of `four lakh to Bijaya’s family after an inquiry.”
Bhitarkanika, a vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp, is a home to around 1,700 saltwater crocodiles. In recent months, many crocodiles have strayed out of the park areas and entered nearby rivers, creeks and other water bodies for laying eggs on banks, Acharya informed.
“We had warned residents of riverside villages against entering into rivers, creeks and other water bodies of Bhitarkanika and its nearby areas which are infested with estuarine crocodiles. The Forest department has also erected barricades in 30 ponds and river ghats to prevent crocodiles from attacking humans,” the DFO said.
The exact figures for crocodile attacks are unavailable with the Forest department. But locals believe that at least six to 10 persons are killed or maimed by the reptiles each year. “Most of the cases are not reported, people just go missing,” said Subhrasnhu Sutar of Rajkanika, one of the areas hit hardest by crocodile attacks.
“Forest officials have been releasing baby crocodiles into rivers every year since 1975 from the breeding centre at Dangamal within the park. With their population on the rise, the reptiles are not getting proper food within the park areas. The estuarine crocodiles often enter rivers and water bodies outside the park areas in search of food and kill humans and cattle,” Sutar added.