Bhagalpur: While people were preparing for the morning arghya on the final day of Chhath on Friday, a massive crocodile, over 8-foot-long, appeared inside the house of deputy mukhiya Rajiv Kumar in Pakra village under Naugachia subdivision in Bhagalpur, causing fear and commotion.
Kumar, whose house the crocodile entered, immediately informed the forest department, local police and his neighbours. The household members, including women and children, ran outside for safety and closed the main gate to prevent the crocodile from escaping.
Soon, a team from the forest department, along with the ‘Dolphin Mitras', nature conservationists, local police and a large crowd, gathered at the house. After more than four hours of effort, a 10-member team from the forest department, with assistance from nature volunteers, managed to capture the Gangetic crocodile.
The crocodile, after a preliminary examination by forest department officials to check for any injuries, was released into the river Ganga, which, according to the forest officials, has a major crocodile population protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (IWPA), 1972.
Forest department official Aman Kumar said the crocodile was seen moving in the river stream near Kanki Tola under Jagatpur Panchayat in Naugachia subdivision for the past 2-3 days by locals. "It seems that the same crocodile entered the land area and drifted to the house of deputy mukhiya," he added.
Veterinary officer of the Bhagalpur forest division, Dr Sanjeet Kumar, said, "A team from the forest department rescued the crocodile. After fulfilling the legal formalities, the crocodile was released at the Tintanga mainstream of the Ganga."