Aradi: The fear of crocodile attack always haunts the inhabitants of a number of riparian villages on the banks of rivers Salandi and Baitarani, which are overrun with the reptiles.
Their fear stems from the fact that many people in the area have lost their lives to crocodiles. Locals say every time someone works close to riverbanks, he/she has to be always wary of the lurking reptiles.
It is alleged that the administration and forest department have confined their efforts to putting up banners and posters rather than taking any concrete measure to check the menace.
Locals have urged the authorities of taking steps to end the problem permanently.
According to reports, eight persons have been killed by crocodiles in several villages in the last 10 years under Chandbali block while five persons were lucky to escape attacks by the reptiles with injuries.
Locals said many villages do not have adequate number of tube-wells, forcing people to go to rivers for bath.
This is when they are vulnerable to crocodile attacks.
Among the victims of crocodile attacks are three persons from Sathibankuda in Sundarpur panchayat; one from Bodak, two from Muan in Aradi panchayat, one from Kantiasahi in Tentulidihi panchayat and one from Dhankhania in Bhuibbruti panchayat. The families of the victims have received government assistance.
Besides, over 100 heads of cattle have fallen prey to the reptiles in the last decade.
Santanu Jena, a resident of Sathibankuda, said, “The crocodile menace has grown in the last few years forcing us not to venture into the river under any circumstance.”
Satyabhama Nayak, a resident of Bodak, feels lucky as she managed to escape a crocodile
attack.
“As I just rose out of water, a crocodile suddenly caught hold of my leg and tried to drag me away. When I screamed for help, people working nearby came to my rescue,” she recalled.
Madhusudan Nayak, a resident of Sitalpur, said, “In the rainy season, the fear of crocodile attack gets compounded.”
Many locals have suggested a number of steps which need to be put in place for safety of the people. More tube-wells should be sunk in riparian villages to evade the need for going to bathe in rivers while forest officials should take measures to check the menace, locals said. PNN
