Kendrapara: Flood in Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers has severely affected the day-to-day life of villagers in Pattamundai, Aul, Rajnagar and Rajkanika blocks.
The villagers are under the threat of a crocodile attack after some people spotted estuarine crocodiles in a couple of places. Around 30 estuarine crocodiles have been estimated to be in Kharasrota and Brahmani rivers. Villagers are apprehensive that some estuarine crocodiles might have entered the village after floods.
When a private relief team Tuesday went to distribute relief material in a marooned village in Aul area, they reportedly saw a 9-feet long crocodile at the river embankment of Kharasrota.
Akhaya Kumar Nayak, ranger of Kanika forest range, said: “During floods, it is easy for crocodiles to stray into rivers from rivulets and creeks by floating against the water current as it is the instinct of aquatic creatures to move to the upstream to escape from water current. So there are possibilities that the crocodiles might have strayed into human habitation.”
The forest department has alerted the villagers living near the riverside not to move near the flooded river embankment. “We asked the riverside villages to inform the forest department if they see a crocodile in the river so that we would take steps to nab the reptile,” Nayak said.
Besides, the villagers are spending sleepless nights due to the fear of snakebites as all types of snakes are moving around their houses.
“We have stocked anti-venom injections keeping in mind that the snake bite would increase during flood time. Even, snake bite injection has been sent to all the health centres to treat the snakebite patients,” said Baisnab Charan Sahoo, CDMO of Kendrapara. PNN