In the National Chambal Sanctuary’s Chakarnagar area of UP’s Etawah district, a 20 year old girl was killed by a crocodile and eaten while her family watched in horror.
The girl, Neeraja, was taking a bath by the river bank on Tuesday when the reptile attacked and killed her. But even before the family could react and raise an alarm, the crocodile dragged the girl’s body underwater and vanished. The authorities at the sanctuary said that police and divers have been involved in the recovery the girl’s body from the lake.
The family said that the girl was fasting on occasion of Ekadasi and went to the lake as part of the customs and ritual. The environmentalists revealed it is the crocodile’s nesting season, and it felt the disturbance and attacked the girl. Anil Patil, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Chambal said that the “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 hatching. People shouldn’t venture near a river bank in summers.”
This sanctuary is famous for being the house of hundreds of crocodiles. More than 500 crocodiles will be seen all round the year in this sanctum. Environmentalists say the depleting water levels have reduced the aquatic life, which is making the crocodiles resort to attacking humans. This is the reason for increased reports of attacks on humans near the Chambal river over the last few days.
