As relatives watch in horror, crocodile drags off woman bathing in Chambal river
- A 20-year-old woman was taking a dip on the banks of Chambal River when a crocodile snatched her away.
- The woman was observing a fast on the day of Ekadashi and was on the river bank as part of a ritual.
- Environmentalists say this is the nesting season for crocodiles and the girl may have ventured near its nest.
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A 20-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh was killed by a crocodile when she was bathing on the banks of Chambal River at the National Chambal Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah district. The incident occurred on June 6, the auspicious day of Ekadashi.
According to family members, Neeraj was taking a dip in the Chambal River as she was observing a fast on that day. The 20-year-old was completing a ritual when a crocodile snatched her and withdrew into the water. The woman’s relatives, horrified and shocked, tried to get help but her body was gone.
So far, sanctuary authorities said police officials and skilled divers searched for the body but haven’t been able to find it yet. Environmentalists observed the crocodile might have attacked her because it’s their nesting season.
“Crocodiles lay eggs in this season. The victim may have unknowingly ventured near the crocodile's nest in the sanctuary. Female crocodiles get aggressive in this season as they protect eggs or hatchlings. People shouldn't venture near a river bank in summers,” Times of India quoted a Anil Patel, divisional forest officer in Chambal, as saying. However, it not clear if sanctuary authorities put up a board cautioning people not to venture into the river.
The National Chambal Sanctuary has over 500 crocodiles and is home to the Indian Mugger and Gharial crocodiles. The latter is a saltwater crocodile and is found in the Chambal and Yamuna River.
The Gharial feeds on marine life but low water levels in the Chambal River have forced the crocodiles to venture out onto land for food. A few years ago, villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah district witnessed crocodiles attack humans and their cattle. Their complaints to the sanctuary authorities forced them to put a board asking people not to venture near the river.
