Kendrapada: A 68-year-old farmer is feared dead after a saltwater crocodile attacked and dragged him into Kharasrota river in Jajpur district on Friday morning while he was collecting water from the river with a bucket to irrigate his vegetable field near the riverbank. The incident took place around 7.30 am when Gajendra Majhi of Barei village under Jajpur Road forest range. “We raised an alarm and tried to save him but in vain,” said Prabir Majhi, a villager.The incident occurred just 30 days after a 57-year-old fisherwoman, Nalini Mandal of Kharinashi village, was killed in a crocodile attack on Sept 16 near Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district. Estuarine crocodile attacks have claimed nine human lives in and around Bhitarkanika National Park in the past 19 months, 18 lives in the last three years and 34 lives over the past 53 months.According to the forest range officer of Jajpur Road, Prasana Sahoo, a joint search operation by fire services and the forest department is underway to trace the missing man. Using loudspeakers and leaflets, forest officials are creating awareness among the villagers and educating them about the risks associated with using river water. People have been advised to bathe only within barricaded areas and avoid entering the river. The forest department would provide an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the victim’s family after due inquiry.
