Vadodara: A 12-year-old girl was dragged away by a crocodile into the river in Padra taluka on Sunday morning. The victim, identified as Hetal Rathodia, was strolling on the banks of Vishwamitri river with her grandfather in Medhad village at around 9am.
According to the locals, she walked towards the river and entered it to wash her hands. A crocodile that was lurking below the water suddenly lunged towards her. Before the girl could react, the reptile grabbed her head in its jaws and disappeared into the water. Villagers and her grandfather rushed to the river to help her but the crocodile went into deep water.Some locals said they saw the crocodile swimming around with the girl’s body in the river. The fire brigade and SDRF personnel conducted a search operation for hours. Even a drone was deployed over the river but the search team couldn’t trace the girl’s body.
Vishwamitri river is home to hundreds of crocodiles and the authorities have often warned people to stay away from the river.
