12-foot saltwater crocodile strays into Kendrapara village, sparks panic among locals

Panic gripped residents of Balipada village under Pattamundai Municipality in Odisha’s Kendrapara district on Tuesday evening after a crocodile was spotted lying across the main road in Ward No. 7.

Locals said the reptile, estimated to be 10 to 12 feet in length, was seen covering almost the entire width of the road. The sight created panic as several people were returning from nearby Durga Puja festivities.

Crocodile Returns To Canal After Commotion

Witnesses said the crocodile remained on the road for several minutes before retreating into a canal linked to the Brahmani River, following loud shouts from villagers.

“A man approaching from Baliapur saw something lying on the road and used his torchlight. When we gathered, we realised it was a crocodile. It was huge, stretching across the road. Within moments, almost all villagers had assembled to see it,” a local resident said.

No comments from the forest department could be obtained in this regard.

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Repeated Sightings Raise Concerns

Notably, this is not the first such incident in the area. Locals reported that crocodiles have been frequently entering human settlements in Pattamundai and Rajnagar regions, creating fear and concern among residents.

Recent heavy rains and floods have forced crocodiles out of rivers and creeks, pushing them into villages and farmlands. Earlier reports had stated that the swollen Brahmani and nearby tidal creeks connected to Bhitarkanika are likely routes for the reptiles’ movement into populated areas.

Similar Incident Reported Earlier This Year

Earlier this year, a 6-foot-3-inch female crocodile was found in a backyard fishing pond at Endulapur village under Rajnagar block in Kendrapara district.

The reptile, believed to have strayed in through floodwaters, was later rescued by a forest department team using fishing nets and released into a creek near Bhitarkanika National Park.