Kendrapara, Odisha | August 25, 2026
A 70-year-old man is feared dead after a saltwater crocodile attacked him and dragged him into the flood-swollen Kharosotra River in Odisha’s Kendrapara district on Tuesday morning. The incident is the second fatal crocodile attack in the flood-hit villages of the district within three weeks.
Man attacked while trying to board boat
The victim has been identified as Pareswar Behera, a resident of Gangadharprasaddia village under Rajkanika block.
According to the report, Behera was attempting to board a boat at around 7.30 am to travel to the nearby Ayatana market when a crocodile suddenly emerged from the floodwater.
The reptile clamped its jaws around him and pulled him into the river before anyone could rescue him. Boatmen and other passengers reportedly raised an alarm and attempted to help, but the crocodile disappeared into the swollen river with Behera.
Search operation launched
Following the incident, Fire Services personnel and Forest Department teams launched a joint search operation to locate the missing man.
Varadaraj Gaonkar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rajnagar, said the search was underway to trace Behera.
The Forest Department has also announced that the victim’s family will receive ₹10 lakh as ex-gratia compensation, subject to completion of the required inquiry.
Second fatal attack in three weeks
The latest incident comes amid a series of crocodile attacks in the region.
On August 3, a 46-year-old woman, Suchitra Das of Damodarapatana village, was killed by a saltwater crocodile while bathing in the flood-swollen Brahmani River.
The Forest Department has reported that estuarine crocodiles have killed seven people in the past 17 months, 16 people over the last three years, and 32 people during the past 51 months in and around the Bhitarkanika National Park landscape.
Floodwaters increase the danger
The current monsoon conditions have made the situation particularly dangerous. Flood-swollen rivers can allow crocodiles to move beyond their usual habitats, bringing them closer to villages, boat crossings and other places routinely used by local residents.
For communities living along rivers in Kendrapara, the latest incident is a reminder of the risks involved in entering or approaching water bodies during the flood season.
Residents should remain particularly cautious around riverbanks, boat-boarding points and flooded areas where crocodiles may be difficult to spot.
The Forest Department’s immediate priority remains locating Pareswar Behera while monitoring crocodile movement in the affected area.
Source credit: This story is based on reporting by The Times of India
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