Following the incident, Indian authorities launched an extensive search to find the victim's body and forest officials warned residents against approaching the river stream or washing clothes on its banks. The authorities also announced a plan for awareness campaigns targeting rural communities near rivers, to educate them about crocodile behavior and ways to prevent attacks.
Khaberni - Panic erupted in the Indian state of Odisha after a crocodile attacked a woman and dragged her into the Kharasrota River in Jajpur district, an incident shared across social media platforms.
According to Indian newspapers, the victim, named Saudamini Mahala, 59, from Kantiya village in Bari area, was washing clothes and utensils on the riverbank when the crocodile suddenly attacked her aggressively. A video on social media shows the crocodile quickly dragging her into the river, while the screams of the terrified villagers can be heard from a nearby bridge, unable to save her. One witness said, "We called for help and tried to rescue her, but the crocodile dragged her deep into the water in seconds."
The villagers explained that the victim was the wife of a worker in Kolkata city, known for her regular visits to the river for household chores, in an area where crocodile appearances had increased in recent months.
