Mahakalapada: A 55-year-old woman died after being attacked and dragged into a river by a crocodile while she was fishing in a nullah at Daspada village under Kharinasi panchayat in Mahakalapada block of Kendrapada district Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Hemalata Das of Das pada village. According to locals, Das had gone to the nearby Galia nullah to catch fish. As she stepped into the water, a large saltwater crocodile attacked her and dragged her into the river. Fellow fishermen who witnessed the incident raised an alarm. On being informed, villagers rushed to the spot and launched a search and rescue operation.
However, there was no immediate trace of her. About an hour later, she was rescued near the Ram Nagar bridge, about 1 kilometre from the spot where she was attacked. She was taken to the nearby Ram Nagar medical facility and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital in critical condition. Doctors there pronounced her dead. The incident has raised concern among forest officials and local residents over the increasing presence of crocodiles in rivers in the district. The forest department has been warning people against entering rivers and other water bodies in the area.
However, locals said many riverside residents depend on fishing and crab catching for their livelihood and have to enter the water daily to support their families. Mahakalapada Range Officer Shantanu Dalai said people had been advised to remain alert and avoid entering rivers. “If any complaint is received, necessary action will be taken,” he said.
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