Kendrapara: A 16-year-old boy of Parimukundapur village under Rajkanika police limits here in the district was reportedly killed in a crocodile attack on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Rudra, son of one Bholanath Behera.
According to sources, Rudra along with his four friends had gone to Kharasrota River to take bath on Sunday afternoon. While bating, Rudra was dragged into water by an estuarine crocodile.
“The crocodile suddenly emerged out of knee-deep water and dragged him into the river. Though his friends tried to save him, the reptile killed him,” said an eyewitness.
On being informed, fire personnel and locals launched a search operation to trace the body. After hours of search, they found his mutilated body floating in the river.
According to reports, crocodile attacks are frequent in Kendrapara as there are over 1,700 crocodiles in several rivers and other water bodies in the district.
Lack of protective measures including fencing is being attributed to be the reason behind such man-animal conflicts.
(Edited By Ramakanta Biswas)
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