PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Haridwar
In latest news from Uttarakhand, a crocodile attacked a villager called Suresh at Dungarpur under Laksar tehsil on Saturday morning, leaving him seriously injured. He was later sent to the district hospital while the attack left an atmosphere of panic in the village. Notably, Laksar tehsil is surrounded by Ganga, Solani and Pathri rivers on its three sides due to which crocodiles keep entering the villages. Apart from pets, they also attack the villagers.
Villagers Ishwar Chand and Joginder said that Suresh’s house is located near a pond. On Saturday morning, as he had gone near it for some work, an adult crocodile came out and grabbed his hand. But Suresh managed to free his hand from the animal’s jaws. As he screamed, other villagers rushed in and the crocodile sprang back into the pond. Suresh’s veins were cut off and he was bleeding profusely. He was transported to the district hospital.
Villagers further said that that crocodile attacks had happened in their village in the past as well. They demanded the administration to catch the crocodile.
The range officer, Shailendra Singh Negi said that as soon as the information about the crocodile attack was received, a team was sent to the spot. “Soon the crocodile will be caught and released at a safe place away from the village,” he assured. Some villagers, however, alleged that the forest department team had failed to catch the crocodile.
