Viral video of crocodile dragging woman in river highlights human-croc conflict in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, 7 Oct (UNI) The disturbing video footage of a furious saltwater crocodile lunging at a 55-year-old woman and dragging her into a river in Odisha’s Jajpur district has gone viral, drawing attention to the ongoing human-crocodile conflict plaguing countless riverside villages in this coastal state.
The crocodile emerged suddenly and attacked Soudamini Mohala, who had gone to the bathing ghat on the Kharasrota River to wash utensils.

The victim, a resident of Bodua village under the Binjharpur police station limits in Jajpur district, struggled desperately to free herself from the reptile’s grip, but her efforts were in vain.
Terrified villagers at the ghat watched helplessly, unable to rescue the screaming woman from the crocodile’s powerful hold.

The horrifying incident, captured on a villager’s mobile phone, has since gone viral on social media, highlighting the grim plight of people living in these areas who continue to battle the growing crocodile menace.

As of the latest reports, the victim has not yet been rescued, though fire brigade and forest patrol teams are continuing their search and rescue operations.
Human-crocodile conflict has become an alarming issue in villages connected to the Bhitarkanika river system, with crocodiles reportedly killing five to six people and injuring many others every year.
Human interference in crocodile-infested water bodies, including rivers, creeks, and canals, has led to frequent tragedies in villages located around the 672-square-kilometre Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is home to 1,826 saltwater crocodiles, the highest number recorded in India.
Residents of Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara districts bear the brunt of these attacks throughout the year as the crocodile population continues to rise.

Although forest officials estimate the population at 1,826, locals claim the actual number may be much higher.

Many villagers believe that the growing crocodile population is directly linked to the increasing number of attacks in and around Bhitarkanika.
“While wildlife protection is being prioritised, human life seems to have become less precious and dignified,” lamented local villagers.

“People living around the riverside villages of Bhitarkanika are being neglected in the name of forest and wildlife protection. We are left to fend for ourselves against the rampaging crocodiles,” they alleged.