Etawah: Crocodiles on the prowl, villagers fear for life

A crocodile entered the Gangapura village in Etawah and created panic and commotion among the villagers recently. The villagers charged after it with sticks and lamps but the reptile was eventually rescued by the Forest Department officials.

The crocodile which entered the Gangapura was more than five feet long. The villagers got scared and attacked the reptile. A villager informed the Society for Conservation of Nature on Friday. The Environment specialists and Forest Department personnel rescued the crocodile and left it in the Chambal River.

Crocodiles are on the prowl in the bordering areas of National Chambal Sanctuary in Etawah district. A couple of days ago, a huge-sized crocodile in Patharra village claimed lives of cattle, instilling fear among the villagers.

Last year, in the same season, crocodiles in the National Chambal Sanctuary area had killed around five people, including a minor boy and injured many.

Environmentalists attribute the rise in incidents of crocodile attack to poor rain which has further depleted the water level of Chambal River and caused shortage of natural feed in the form of fish and other aquatic animals on which these reptiles survive.