Binjharpur/Bari: A woman was dragged by a crocodile into the Kharasrota river while she was washing herself in the water body near Kantia village under Bodua panchayat and Bari block in Jajpur district Monday afternoon. The victim was identified as Soudamini Mahala, 55, wife of Sukadev Mahala in Kantia village.
According to locals, Soudamini had gone to the riverbank to wash herself when a crocodile hiding near the river’s edge suddenly pounced on her and pulled her into deep water. Villagers rushed to the spot after hearing her screams and witnessed the crocodile drowning her in the river.
Fire service personnel arrived and launched a search operation, but she had not been traced at the time of reporting. Residents of both sides of the river in Binjharpur and Bari areas are now living in fear. Just a month ago, a crocodile from the same river stretch had dragged away a cow.
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Villagers said they had earlier urged the Forest department to remove the crocodile, but no action was taken. “Had they acted in time, this tragedy could have been avoided,” a resident said. Forest officials were present at the site as the search operation continued.
PNN
